I07 

C2A34 
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DOCUMENTS 
DEPT. 


B    3    fl^S    IbT 


)CUMSiV£S 


PR]EPAR1 

AuTMORiTYoF  Law 


1.. 


I-  • 


EESOUECES 


OF 


CALIFORNIA 


PREPARED  I\  CONFORMITY  fflTH  A  LAW  APPROVED  MARCH  11,  1893. 


H.  H.  MARKHAM,  GOVERNOR. 


SACRAMENTO: 

STATE  OFFICE,  :  :   :   I   :   A.  J.  johnston,  supt.  state  printing. 

1893. 


CONTENTS, 


Page. 
Introduction 3_4 

Description  of  the  Counties  of  the  State 5_98 

Alameda,  5;  Alpine,  8;  Amador,  9;  Butte,  10;  Calaveras,  13;  Colusa,  14; 
Contra  Costa,  16;  Del  Norte,  18;  El  Dorado,  19;  Fresno,  20;  Glenn,  23;  Hum- 
boldt, 24;  Inyo,  26;  Kern,  27;  Lake,  30;  Lassen,  31;  Los  Angeles,  33;  ISIarin, 
36;  Mariposa,  38;  Mendocino,  39;  Merced,  41;  Modoc,  42;  Mono,  43;  Monte- 
rey, 44;  Napa,  45;  Nevada,  47;  Orange,  48;  Placer,  49;  Plumas,  51;  Sac- 
ramento, 52;  San  Benito,  55;  San  Bernardino,  56;  San  Diego,  58;  San 
Francisco,  60;  San  Joaquin,  66;  San  Luis  Obispo,  67;  San  Mateo,  69;  Santa 
Barbara,  70;  Santa  Clara,  72;  Santa  Cruz,  75;  Shasta,  76;  Sierra,  78;  Siskiyou, 
79;  Solano,  80;  Sonoma,  82;  Stanislaus,  84;  Sutter,  85;  Tehama,  87;  Trinity, 
88;  Tulare,  89;  Tuolumne,  91;  Ventura,  92;  Yolo,  94;  Yuba,  96;  Kings, 
Madera,  and  Riverside,  97. 

Topography  OF  the  State.    By  T.  C.  Judkins . 98-101 

Climate  of  California,  and  its  Economic  Value.    By  N.  P.  Chipman.. 101-106 

Climate  and  Climatic  Features  of  California.    By  James  A.  Barwick 106-109 

Educational  Advantages.    By  W.  H.  V.  Raymond . 110-114 

Agriculture.    By  T.  C.  Judkins 114-116 

The  Horticultural  Industry.    By  B.  M.  Lelong 117-128 

Viniculture.    By  Winfield  Scott 129-130 

Dairying  IN  California.    By  G.  G.  Wickson 130-131 

Irrigation  in  California.    By  George  P.  Weeks 132-134 

California  Petroleum  and  Asphaltum 134-135 

The  Sugar  Beet  in  California.    By  Richard  Gird 136-138 

Mining  for  the  Precious  Metals 138-140 

What  Can  be  Done  in  California.    By  E.  W.  Maslin 140-142 

Mineral  Springs  and  Health  Resorts ..: 142-143 

Market  Quotations . . ...i, . 143-144 


This  book  was  prepared  in  accordance  with  suggestions  to  the  Governor  by  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Press  Association  of  California.  As  editor,  I  am  responsible 
for  the  description  of  the  counties.  The  various  articles  were  prepared  by  gentlemen  ' 
whose  acquaintance  with  the  subjects  upon  which  they  respectively  wrote,  gives 
assurance  of  the  correctness  of  every  statement  made. 

Owing  to  lack  of  space  many  subjects  had  to  be  omitted;  such  as  lumbering,  stock 
raising,  hops,  fish,  manufactories,  and  pursuits  common  to  other  States.  Only  such 
industries,  except  agriculture,  were  selected  as  are  peculiar  to  California. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  following  persons  for  valuable  data  relating  to  their  respective 
counties:  James  McCauley,  of  Amador  County;  Watson  Chalmers  and  N.  G.  Smith, 
Butte;  C.  M.  Whitlock,  Calaveras;  J.  E.  Eldridge  and  L.  W.  Musick,  Del  Norte;  G.  M. 
Richardson,  El  Dorado;  S.  H.  Cole,  Fresno;  W.  A.  Chalfant,  Inyo;  John  Isaac,  Kern;  W.  L. 
Rideout,  Lake;  Harry  Brooks,  Los  Angeles;  L.  B.  Woodruff,  Merced;  J.  Buckingham, 
Mendocino;  Mrs.  Frances  A.  Reynolds,  Mariposa;  W.  W.  McMillan  and  E.  W.  Wilson, 
Modoc;  F.  E.  Wadsworth,  Nevada;  J.  M.  Francis,  Napa;  W.  S.  Taylor,  Orange;  W.  H. 
Schardin,  Placer;  A.  J.  Waterhouse,  San  Joaquin;  A.  B.  Lemon,  Sonoma;  A.  Dalton,  So- 
lano; Strong  &  Arms,  San  Diego;  S.  W.  Bugbee  and  J.  C.  Quimby,  San  Francisco;  D.  Mc- 
Pherson,  Santa  Cruz;  Edwin  Rhodes,  San  Bernardino;  H.  C.  Wright  and  Myron  Angel, 
San  Luis  Obispo;  Chas.  Tracie,  Shasta;  R.  Nixon  and  G.  D.  Cummings,  Siskiyou;  M. 
Pritchard,  Sierra;  N.  B.  Kirtley  and  A.  D.  Cutts,  Sutter;  Benj.  Maddox,  Tulare;  Ed.  E. 
Leake,  Yolo;  and  T.  J.  Sherwood,  Yuba. 

The  Governor  desires,  sincerely,  to  thank  the  writers  of  the  various  articles  and  the 
above  named  persons  for  their  contributions. 


E.  W.  MASLIN,  Editor. 


I 


clsiAai 

INTRODUCTION.  M^^^' 


Executive  Department,  ) 

Sacramento,  California.  ( 

The  Legislature  of  the  State  of  California,  at  its  last  session,  passed  an  Act  which 
provides  that  "the  Governor  is  authorized  and  empowered  to  prepare,  or  have  prepared, 
a  volume  expositor}-  of  the  resources  of  the  State  of  California,  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
tribution at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition." 

The  present  volume  is  issued  in  compliance  with  such  law.  According  to  the  best 
advice  which  I  could  obtain,  it  was  thought  best  to  present  a  succinct  description 
of  each  county,  which  should  include  such  an  account  of  its  area,  population,  chief 
industry  of  the  inhabitants,  climate  and  soils,  as  would  assist  the  intending  settler, 
before  leaving  his  home  in  the  East  for  California,  in  forming  his  judgment  as  to  which 
part  of  the  State  offered  immediate  advantages  in  the  pursuit  of  the  vocation  he  chose 
to  follow. 

It  is  impossible,  with  the  limited  appropriation  made,  having  in  view  the  necessity 
of  a  large  edition  of  the  work,  to  present,  even  in  the  briefest  form,  a  statement  of  all 
the  resources  of  the  State,  which  are  boundless. 

In  no  State  do  so  many  opportunities  offer  to  engage  the  energies  of  man.  The  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains  contain  a  belt,  situated  in  the  most  enjoyable  climate  in  the  world, 
which  for  400  miles  in  length  is  fairly  reticulated  with  gold-bearing  quartz  lodes  open 
to  free  exploitation.  The  State  abounds  in  nearly  every  known  mineral.  The  soils  of 
the  valleys  and  mountains  are  adapted  to  the  growth  of  fruits  of  sub-tropical  and 
temperate  zones.  The  waters  of  thirty-four  streams  flow  from  varying  altitudes  in 
the  mountains  to  the  plains  below,  ready  to  supply  illimitable  power  by  that  most 
potent  agency,  electricity,  to  mechanical  and  manufacturing  operations.  The  task  of 
presenting  even  a  resume  of  our  resources  being  inexpedient,  it  was  thought  best  to 
direct  attention  to  the  present  and  most  important  fields  of  industry,  believing  that 
for  many  years  to  come  they  will  offer  ample  opportunity  for  the  investment  of  capital 
and  the  expenditure  of  the  best  and  most  profitable  industrial  energies.  There  has  been 
no  attempt  at  mere  literary  display.  The  effort  has  been  in  the  direction  of  marshaling 
facts.from  which  the  reader  may  draw  his  own  conclusions.  The  various  subjects  have 
been  treated  by  gentlemen  of  State-wide  reputation,  each  of  whom  is  especially  fitted 
by  experience  and  learning  to  write  upon  the  matter  submitted  to  him. 

I  selected  as  the  editor  Mr.  E.  W.  Maslin,  Secretary  of  the  California  State  Board  of 
Trade,  a  gentleman  whose  office  and  practical  experience  fitted  him  for  the  task,  and  all 
the  statements  made  have  been  verified  by  him.  There  has  been  no  exaggeration.  The 
gentlemen  whose  pens  were  engaged  in  this  work  were  impressed  with  the  importance 
that  nothing  should  they  extenuate  nor  set  down  aught  but  plain,  unvarnished  facts. 

I  believe  that  more  harm  than  good  has  been  done  by  the  stories  of  exuberant  vege- 
table growths  and  wonderful  yields  of  grain  and  fruit.  It  is  true  that  a  prune  tree  has 
yielded  1,100  pounds  of  fruit,  and  that  an  acre  of  land  has  produced  18  tons  of  grapes, 
but  it  is  not  true  of  the  average  tree  or  vine.  The  Californian  believes  these  statements, 
because  they  are  common  enough  in  this  State  to  cause  no  surprise;  but  when  such 
statements  are  sent  to  the  East,  they  are  apt  to  be  so  made  as  to  induce  the  belief  that 
Buch  yields  are  common  and  may  be  relied  upon.  The  truth  about  California  is  enough 
to  be  told. 

More  attention  has  been  given  to  horticulture  than  to  any  other  branch  of  industry, 
because  it  is  destined  to  be  the  basic  industry  of  the  State,  and  because  it  is  most 
attractive  to  intelligent  minds.    It  has  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  State  as  the 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

more  certain  in  its  results,  both  for  profit  and  contentment,  than  any  other  vocation. 
It  is  estimated  that  last  j-ear  the  enormous  crop  of  fruit  did  not  reach  more  than  five 
million  people.  Imagine  the  draught  upon  our  energies  when  the  facilities  and  cheap- 
ness of  transportation  are  such  that  every  person  in  the  United  States,  even  if  the 
population  does  not  increase,  may  be  able  to  obtain  our  fruit.  In  1880  not  more  than  500 
carloads  of  fruit  were  shipped  East  from  this  State,  yet  in  1892  we  shipped  from  the  State 
by  sea  and  rail,  20,495  carloads  of  fruits  and  nuts.  There  was  transported  by  rail,  in 
pounds,  of  green  fruit,  111,688,690;  citrus  fruits,  69,715,000;  dried  fruits,  58,735,980;  raisins, 
53,113,320;  canned  fruits,  77,555,820;  a  total  of  374,826,050  pounds.  Estimating  the  pounds 
of  green  fruit  to  make  one  of  dried,  we  have  715,996,610  pounds.  Add  to  this  35,091,216 
pounds  shipped  by  sea,  and  we  have  the  total  amount  shipped  from  the  State,  751,087,826 
pounds. 

Horticulture  offers  the  most  certain  and  immediate  returns  for  the  labor  bestowed,  and 
is  the  most  inviting  field  for  the  man  of  moderate  means.  In  agriculture,  simple,  even 
in  this  State,  the  acreage  unit  is  increasing  and  the  number  of  owners  lessening.  "We  are 
solving  the  problem  in  California.  The  unit  of  the  orchard  and  vineyard  holdings  is  20 
or  40  acres.  Imagine  the  influences  which  must  flow  from  this  close  contact  of  neigh- 
bors when  horticulture  shall  become  the  dominant  industry.  All  social,  religious,  and 
educational  advantages  may  be  enjoyed  which  pertains  to  cities.  The  culture  of  the 
country  will  in  nowise  be  distinguished  from  that  of  the  city.  The  tide  of  settlement 
will  be  turned,  and  is  now.turning,  from  the  cities  to  the  country.  The  question  so  often 
asked  by  the  anxious  father  and  mother  in  the  East,  "  "What  shall  1  do  with  my  boy  ?  " 
will  occasion  no  solicitude  here.  The  dull  repose  of  mere  agricultural  life,  and  the 
absence  of  social  enjoyments,  repels  the  boy  from  the  farm,  but  the  pursuit  of  horticult- 
ure will  awaken  all  his  energies  and  be  an  intellectual  stimulus  to  his  mind.  He  may 
here  associate  with  the  most  intelligent  and  cultured  people,  who  find  delight  and 
profit  in  its  pursuit. 

"What  the  State  is  doing  to  foster  various  industries  may  be  evidenced  by  her  appro- 
priations. There  was  an  annual  appropriation  by  the  last  Legislature  as  follows:  For 
agricultural  societies,  $115,000;  citrus  fairs,  $5,000;  horticulture,  $14,800;  viticulture,  $15,000; 
and  mining  and  geological  work,  $25,000.  The  State  and  the  Stanford  Universities  each 
has  departments  of  agriculture,  horticulture,  and  mining. 

There  is  a  want  of  knowledge  in  the  East  in  respect  to  irrigation.  It  is  resorted  to  in 
this  State  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  growers.  In  some  sections  even  for  citrus 
fruits  it  is  imperative;  in  other  sections  fruit  may  be  raised  without  irrigation.  Perhaps 
in  the  largest  part  of  the  fruit  sections  irrigation  is  not  a  necessity.  That  it  is  a  factor 
in  producing  large  crops  is  not  denied,  but  it  is  not  generally  a  necessity.  In  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley  and  in  Southern  California  water  is  a  necessity  and  the  supply  at 
present  is  ample. 

The  question  may  be  asked,  "U'hy  this  book?  I  answer  frankly,  Because  the  State 
needs  more  population.  California  has  158,360  square  miles,  or  101,350,400  acres.  There 
are  about  33,500,000  acres  of  arable  land  in  the  State,  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  having 
6,850,000  acres,  the  Sacramento  Valley  5,600,000  acres,  and  the  foothills  of  the  mountains 
6,000,000.  The  population,  by  the  census,  is  1,208,130.  "We  want  our  soil  tilled,  our  mines 
opened,  our  rivers  improved.  "We  want  the  touch  of  the  elbow  of  enterprising  men  and 
women  in  our  progress,    "\^^e  want  more  homes,  schools,  and  churches. 

This  book  is  accompanied  with  an  invitation  to  the  sturdy  young  men  of  the  Union 
to  come  to  California.    There  is  room  here  for  you,  and  a  generous  welcome. 

I  close  this  with  the  closing  paragraph  of  an  article  written  by  me  for  a  paper  to  be 
distributed  at  the  "World's  Fair: 

"  I  hope  that  our  exhibit  at  the  "World's  Fair  will  be  carefully  examined,  and  all  the 

economic  questions  in  connection  with  each  class  thoroughly  investigated  by  every 

visitor  there,  for  I  believe  that  within  ten  years  our  increase  in  wealth  and  prosperity 

will  be  marvelous,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  Eastern  people  to  come 

here  to  invest  money,  to  seek  health  and  pleasure,  or  to  earn  a  living  and  build  up  a 

profitable  business." 

^  H.  H.  MARKHAM, 

Governor. 


CALIFORNIA. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTIES  OF  THE  STATE. 

ALAMEDA. 

Alameda  County  is  bounded  north  by  Contra  Costa  County,  east  by  San  Joaquin, 
south  by  Santa  Clara,  and  west  by  bay  of  San  Francisco. 

Statistics.— Area,  737  square  miles,  or  512,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  448,319  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $90,999,497.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
Lie.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  130;  assessed  at  $1,993,856.  County  property,  $785,000. 
County  debt,  $46,425.  Number  of  schools,  362.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years, 
25,052.    School  money,  $618,209  86.     Population,  by  census  of  1890,  93,516. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Oakland  is  the  county  seat;  population,  60,000; 
school  children  in  1893,  13,617.  The  principal  cities  and  towns  are:  Alameda,  population 
12,000;  Berkeley,  population  8,000;  Haywards,  population  1,500;  Livermore,  population 
1,400;  San  Leandro,  Niles,  Pleasanton,  Irvington,  ]\Iission  San  .Ios6,  Newark,  Alvarado, 
San  Lorenzo,  and  certain  environs  of  Oakland,  as  Golden  Gate,  Lorin,  Emeryville,  and 
Stockyards. 

Oakland  has  seven  banks,  City  Hall,  and  City  Library  of  25,000  volumes.  County 
Court-house  and  Hall  of  Records,  147  miles  of  legal  streets  (79  of  which  are  asphalted 
or  macadamized),  71  miles  of  sewer,  221  miles  of  sidewalks  (one  half  of  which  is  cement 
or  artificial  stone).  It  is  lighted  with  gas  and  electricity,  provided  with  line  water  from 
three  joint  sources  of  supply,  mainly  Lake  Chabot,  has  a  magnificent  theater,  three 
daily  newspapers,  and  eight  others  of  lesser  note.  The  Piedmont  baths  have  a  splendid 
building,  and  one  of  the  best  natatoriums  in  the  country.  The  business  blocks  are 
substantial  and  expensive,  and  there  are  mUes  of  elegant  residences,  surrounded  with 
lawns,  shrubbery,  and  flowers.  Together  with  Berkeley  and  Alameda  City  it  forms  the 
educational  center  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  location  of  elegant,  luxurious,  and  refined 
homes,  the  center  of  attraction  for  investing  capital,  and  in  every  respect  has  a  most 
flattering  future. 

Alameda,  equally  accessible  with  Oakland  and  Berkeley  from  San  Francisco,  and 
equally  attractive  as  a  place  of  residence  and  business,  embodies  like  advantq,ges.  Its 
population  is  about  12,000.  It  is  supplied  with  pure  water  from  artesian  wells,  by  the 
Holly  system,  lighted  with  gas  and  electricity,  well  paved  in  streets  and  sidewalks, 
mild  and  tempered  in  climate,  even  more  than  Oakland,  and  has  the  best  sewerage 
system  possible  to  secure,  with  modern  automatic  sewer  flushers.  There  are  several 
banks,  two  daily  newspapers,  and  many  fine  buildings. 

Berkeley  is  also  a  city  of  fine  homes  for  business  men  of  San  Francisco,  and  for 
retired  capitalists,  for  men,  women,  and  children  seeking  a  healthful  climate,  best 
educational  advantages,  quiet  life,  proximity  to  a  large  city  and  all  that  this  includes. 
It  has  between  8,000  and  9,000  population,  and  like  the  other  places  above  named  is 
growing  rapidly.  Its  water  is  derived  from  tunnels  in  the  hills  back  of  the  city,  its 
gas  from  Oakland,  and  its  electric  lights  from  its  own  system.  It  has  banks,  news- 
papers, and  all  business  facilities. 

San  Leandro,  Haywards,  and  Livermore  are  lovely  country  towns,  quiet,  healthful, 
progressive,  with  banks,  newspapers,  and  first-class  hotels.  All  the  intervening  country, 
in  fact,  is  lined  with  residences  of  business  men  from  the  city,  engaged  in  fruit  culture, 
or  seeking  rest,  pure  air,  and  tranquillity  in  their  suburban  homes. 


6  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Topography. — Alameda  County  skirts  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  for  36  miles.  Be- 
tween the  bay  on  the  west  and  the  Contra  Costa  range  on  the  east  lies  a  tract  of  level 
land  running  from  Berkeley  on  the  north  to  a  distance  of  over  30  miles  south,  being 
about  3  miles  wide  at  Berkeley,  and  widening  out  in  the  south  to  12  or  15  miles.  On 
the  north  and  east  the  county  is  broken  by  hills  of  the  Contra  Costa  range,  ranging 
from  400  of  500  feet  high  to  peak  of  Mission  San  Jos6,  2,273  feet  high.  Among  and  bor- 
dering on  these  hills  are  numerous  smaller  fertile  valleys,  the  most  important  of  which 
lie  mainly  in  the  southeastern  part,  and  are  known  as  Livermore,  Moraga,  Sunol,  Castro, 
Amador,  and  Calaveras.  Along  the  bay  are  a  few  salt  marshes.  The  principal  stream 
is  Alameda  Creek,  rising  in  Mount  Diablo  range,  near  Livermore,  and,  running  through 
a  canon  in  Contra  Costa  range,  empties  into  San  Francisco  Bay  near  Alvarado.  Also 
San  Lorenzo  Creek  and  San  Leandro  Creek,  on  which  is  located  Lake  Chabot,  the  chief 
source  of  Oakland's  water  supply.  The  eastern  section  of  the  county,  in  which  Liver- 
more Valley  is  located,  is  very  hilly,  and  of  much  higher  altitude  generally,  though 
interspersed  with  many  small  valleys. 

Soils.— Along  the  bay  shore  and  salt  marshes  the  soils  are  heavy  alluviiim,  and  very 
fertile.  Back  of  this  is  a  broad  belt  of  rich,  black  adobe,  crossed  at  intervals  by  lighter 
sedimentary  deposits.  Around  Niles  the  soil  grows  to  lighter  loam.  In  the  numerous 
small  valleys  much  of  the  same  heavy  character  prevails,  with  like  fertility  and 
strength,  varied  by  injections  of  sandy  loam  or  small  gravel. 

Climate.— San  Francisco,  on  the  Golden  Gate,  is  foggy  and  windy.  Oakland  and 
Berkeley,  opposite  and  distant  6  or  7  miles,  are  far  less  so,  because  of  distance,  and 
because  of  coast  hills  elevating  the  winds  and  fogs,  so  that  they  pass  over  Oakland  and 
Berkeley  and  strike  the  high  hills  lying  east  of  them.  As  you  travel  south  the  influ- 
ence of  these  winds  and  fogs  gradually  fades  away,  so  that  in  Alameda  City  you  find 
less,  in  East  Oakland  and  Fruitvale  still  less,  until  at  San  Leandro  and  Haywards  you 
have  the  most  delightful  summer  and  winter  climate  possible.  At  Niles  it  grows  some 
warmer  in  summer.  Livermore  and  Pleasanton,  in  the  southeast,  have  an  interior 
climate.  Observations,  1891-92,  at  Oakland  show  mean  temperatures:  spring,  54.08°; 
summer,  62.03°;  fall,  57.09°;  winter,  53.10°;  and  average  for  eleven  years  past:  spring, 
55.29°;  summer,  60.46°;  fall,  56.72°;  winter,  49.81°.  Mean  annual  rainfall  for  eleven  years 
past  is  24.33  inches.  Death  rate  for  past  ten  years  in  Oakland,  13.57  per  1,000  population; 
Alameda  City,  11  per  1,000  population. 

Irrigation.— Little  irrigation  is  resorted  to,  there  being  only  one  short  canal  of  5 
miles.  Fifty  artesian  wells  are  found  in  the  county,  mostly  around  Alvarado,  in  depth 
from  200  to  400  feet,  now  being  exploited  for  domestic  supply. 

Agriculture. — About  213,000  acres  are  devoted  to  the  various  departments  of  agricult- 
ure—97,000  acres  to  hay,  68,000  to  barley,  36,000  to  wheat,  and  12,250  to  oats.  Reported 
products  for  1892  are  2,000,000  bushels  of  barley,  1,000,000  bushels  of  wheat,  500,000  tons  of 
hay.  Corn  is  principally  in  market  gardening  for  the  table.  Cereals  average  from  30  to 
50  bushels  per  acre.  In  vegetables,  no  other  county  surpasses  Alameda.  From  East 
Oakland  to  Mission  San  Jos6  is  one  series  of  vegetable  gardens.  The  products  and  ship- 
ments are  enormous  from  the  principal  centers  of  San  Leandro,  San  Lorenzo,  Haywards, 
Niles,  ]\Iission  San  Jos6,  Irvington,  and  all  stations  on  the  narrow  gauge  nearer  the  bay. 
Peas,  in  April,  May,  and  June,  three  to  five  cars  a  day;  potatoes,  cabbage,  cauliflower, 
celery,  squash,  onions,  beets,  cucumbers,  by  the  50-acre  field;  tomatoes  by  the  100- 
acre  patches.  Rhubarb  of  finest  quality  is  shipped  at  the  rate  of  .|500  a  day  from  San 
Leandro  and  vicinity.    Hops  are  grown  extensively  around  Livermore  and  Pleasanton. 

Horticulture.— From  East  Oakland  to  Niles,  Sunol,  and  Livermore  is  an  almost 
uninterrupted  series  of  orchards  of  deciduous  fruits,  vineyards,  and  berry  gardens. 
Apricots  lead  in  acreage,  then  in  order  succeed  prunes,  cherries,  plums,  pears,  almonds, 
apples,  nectarines,  peaches,  olives,  English  walnuts,  and  figs.  Very  little  citrus  fruit  is 
grown.  Immense  amounts  of  raspberries,  strawberries,  gooseberries,  and  currants  are 
raised.  The  illustrated  album  of  Alameda  County  for  1893  gives  the  following  number 
of  fruit  trees:  Apricots,  331,000;  prunes,  235,100;  cherries,  227,100;  plums,  185,500;  pears, 
170,100;  almonds,  12,3,700;  apples,  50,500;  nectarines,  40,700;  peach,  37,500;  olives,  3,700; 
English  walnuts,  3,600;-  figs,  2,300.  The  fruit  shipments  of  1892  are  estimated  at  3,250,000 
pounds.  The  above  examples  sufficiently  show  the  especial  adaptation  of  the  soil  to 
varieties.     Grape  culture  is  largely  engaged  in  at  Livermore,  Pleasanton,  Sunol,  Mis- 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  / 

sion  San  Jos6,  in  the  hotter  and  drier  regions,  and  on  the  sunny  slopes.  Seven  thousand 
acres  in  vineyards  are  reported  in  1892,  and  a  wine  product  of  1,250,000  gallons.  Out  of 
four  medals  granted  to  American  wines  at  the  Paris  Exposition,  in  1889,  three  were 
carried  off  by  Alameda  Countj\  The  State  Board  of  Horticulture's  report  for  1892 
shows  for  the  county,  10,404  acres  of  fruit  trees— 13,050  bearing  and  3,354  not  bearing. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — Though  Alameda  is  not  properly  a  stock-raising 
county,  it  has  a  large  quantity  of  fine  stock  and  makes  much  fine  butter.  The  condition 
of  this  industry  shows  how  advantageous  is  diversified  farming,  and  how  all  the  resources 
of  the  land  and  situation  are  utilized.  If  the  whole  State  used  its  available  resources 
in  the  same  proportion  as  Alameda  Countj',  it  would  sustain  a  population  larger  than 
that  of  the  island  of  Great  Britain. 

The  Assessor's  report  for  1892,  which  certainly  errs  on  the  side  of  conservatism,  shows 
11,280  horses,  17,048  cattle,  2,000  hogs,  9,975  sheep,  100  goats,  35  mules,  and  3,576  dozen 
poultry.  All  localities  in  the  county  raise  their  proportion  of  this  product,  though 
there  are  exceptionally  fine  stock  farms  around  Pleasanton  and  Livermore. 

Minerals  and  Timber. — The  mineral  and  timber  resources  of  the  county  are  unim- 
portant, with  the  exception  of  coal,  of  which  there  is  an  extensive  field  at  the  base  of 
Mount  Diablo,  which  has  been  mined  for  a  number  of  years. 

Educational  Advantages. — The  State  University  at  Berkeley  is  located  on  a  beautiful 
site  of  245  acres,  amidst  natural  trees,  improved  lawns  and  gardens,  commanding  an 
overlooking  view  of  Golden  Gate,  San  Francisco,  Alameda,  and  Oakland,  the  bay,  and 
the  mountains  of  ^Nlarin  County.  It  has  twenty-two  buildings  on  the  grounds,  includ- 
ing Xorth  and  South  Halls,  Bacon  Art  and  Library  Building,  Mining  and  Mechanical 
Arts,  Agricultural,  Chemical,  with  laboratory,  Electrical  buildings,  etc.  Its  library 
contains  50,000  volumes.  Its  endowments  amount  to  nearly  $7,000,000,  of  which 
$4,053,824  57  is  cash  or  income-producing.  Its  present  student  roll  is  1,061,  or  851  men 
and  210  women.  It  ranks  fifth  in  endowment  and  seventh  in  number  of  students  in 
the  United  States.  No  tuition  is  charged.  The  University  also  embraces  the  Lick 
Observatory  at  Mount  Hamilton  near  San  Jos^,  Colleges  of  Law,  ]\Iedicine,  Pharmacy, 
and  Dentistry  in  San  Francisco,  and  has  recently  had  added  to  it  by  gift  from  the  Mark 
Hopkins  estate,  the  Hopkins  mansion  in  San  Francisco,  to  be  devoted  to  a  School  of 
Fine  Arts. 

The  State  Asylum  for  Deaf,  Dumb,  and  Blind  at  Berkeley,  as  much  an  educational 
institution  as  any  other,  is  endowed  by  the  State  and  has  a  splendid  site  for  its  build- 
ings, on  the  same  slope  with  the  University,  which  consist  of  educational  building  with 
assembly  hall,  library,  art  gallery,  and  executive  oflfices,  refectory,  gymnasium,  home 
buildings,  cooking  schools,  steam  laundries,  engine  house,  electric  light  plant,  carpenter 
shops,  printing  office,  orchards,  kitchen,  garden,  and  a  fine  herd  of  Holsteins  and  Jer- 
seys.   The  combined  attendance  is  about  200  for  1892.    Warren  Wilkinson  is  Principal. 

Public  Schools.— There  are  362  public  schools  in  the  county,  of  which  Oakland, 
Alameda,  and  Berkeley  hold  the  major  number.  Oakland  school  property  is  valued  at 
$1,001,340;  Alameda  City,  $191,889;  Berkeley,  $25,525;  outside  districts,  $284,924. 

Private  Schools.— Mills  College  for  young  ladies,  in  Brooklyn,  5  miles  from  Oakland; 
Washington  College  for  boys  and  girls,  at  Irvington;  Livermore  College,  at  Livermore; 
in  Oakland,  Field  Seminary,  Snell  Seminary,  Hopkins  Academy,  Pacific  Theological 
Seminary,  California  College  at  Highland  Park,  Christian  Brothers  College,  and  two 
business  colleges. 

Religious  Institutions.— In  Oakland  there  are  66  churches,  representing  many  religious 
sects,  all  provided  with  more  or  less  elegant  places  of  worship.  The  other  cities  and 
towns  are  equally  well  provided. 

Fraternal  Societies.— About  27  fraternal  societies  are  represented  in  the  county,  and 
have  attractive  places  of  meeting. 

Charitable  Institutions.— Aside  from  the  County  Infirmary  and  Hospital  Buildings, 
located  in  Eden  Township,  between  San  Leandro  and  Haywards,  there  are  numerous 
hospitals,  homes,  and  cliaritable  associations — mainly  in  Oakland,  but  in  proportion  also 
in  the  other  cities  of  the  county— such  as  Fabiola  Hospital,  Home  for  Adult  Blind,  Old 
Ladies'  Home,  and  many  others. 

Manufactures.- Alameda  County,  especially  Oakland,  Alameda  City,  Berkeley,  and 
their  immediate  environs,  is  largely  a  manufacturing  center,  embracing  a  wide  range 


8  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

and  many  very  extensive  institutions,  such  as  salt,  flour,  iron  products,  bridges,  leather, 
soap,  nails,  cars,  smelted  products,  refined  borax,  tiles,  pottery,  brick  (common  and 
pressed),  cotton,  jute,  canned  fruits  and  vegetables,  fruit  boxes,  coal  oil,  beet  sugar,  agri- 
cultural implements,  moldings,  sash,  doors,  blinds,  paints,  and  oils.  The  Oakland  out- 
side stockyards  turn  off  a  yearly  product  of  $2,000,000.  There  are  98  manufactories  in 
Oakland,  and  proportionately  in  the  other  cities.  Ship  building  is  extensively  carried 
on  in  Oakland  and  Alameda.  The  Alvarado  Beet  Sugar  Works  turn  out  50,000  pounds  a 
day,  and  encourage  extensive  plantings  of  sugar  beets  at  $5  a  ton,  or  about  $75  an  acre. 
The  yearly  output  of  the  Borax  Refinery  is  5,000  tons. 

Railroads.— The  Southern  Pacific  System  receives  and  sends  out  300  trains  a  day  from 
Oakland  center,  including  overland  by  Ogden,  by  Portland,  by  Los  Angeles,  south  to 
San  Jos6,  north  to  Napa,  Sonoma,  and  Mendocino,  local  to  San  Leandro,  Haywards, 
and  Niles,  Alameda  half  hourly  each  by  two  routes,  Berkeley  half  hourly,  and  all 
Oakland  front  half  hourly. 

Street  Cars.— The  cities  of  Oakland  and  Berkeley  are  traversed  by  two  cable  lines 
and  six  electric  lines,  one  of  the  latter  running  hourly  to  all  points  as  far  as  Haywards, 
20  miles. 

Harbor  and  Waterfront.— Oakland  and  Alameda  have  many  miles  of  waterfront. 
Two  lines  of  ferry  run  each  half  hourly  to  San  Francisco,  time  about  twenty  minutes. 
Several  mixed  passenger  and  freight  boats  also  run,  hourly  or  less  frequently.  A  new 
ferry  will  soon  be  established  at  Emeryville,  and  the  California  and  Nevada  Railroad, 
sold  lately  to  new  parties,  will  be  changed  to  broad  gauge,  extended  to  Walnut  Creek, 
and  possibly  into  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  and  give  needed  and  healthy  competition  in 
freights  and  fares. 

The  improvements  now  making  in  Oakland  harbor  will  stimulate  wharf  building 
and  shipping  business  generally  on  this  side  of  the  bay.  The  Government  has  expended 
81,534,000  on  the  harbor,  and  will  spend  $990,000  more.  The  tidal  canal  connecting  San 
Leandro  Bay  with  the  Estuary  will  soon  be  completed,  and  many  new  wharves  will 
be  built. 

Prices  of  Land.— Lands  in  this  improved  section  range  from  $250  to  $500  an  acre. 
The  more  remote  from  the  advantages  and  the  higher  up  among  the  hills,  the  poorer 
the  soil,  the  less  the  price. 

You  cannot  go  estray  in  Alameda  County  within  these  limits  in  seeking  a  home. 
It  is  not  for  the  impecunious  man,  however;  you  must  have  capital,  a  business,  some- 
thing to  fall  back  on.  With  these  conditions  you  can  nowhere  live  more  happily  than 
here. 

ALPINE. 

Alpine  County  is  bounded  north  and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada,  east  by  Mono 
County,  south  and  west  by  Inyo  and  Tuolumne  Counties,  and  west  and  north  by  Cala- 
veras, Amador,  and  El  Dorado  Counties. 

Statistics. — Area,  836  square  miles,  or  535,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
300,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  37,890  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$239,494.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  2.80.  County  property,  $1,600.  County 
debt,  $21,642  25.  Number  of  schools,  4.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  105. 
School  money,  $2,199  39.    Population,  census  of  1890,  667. 

County  Seat.— ]Markleeville  is  the  county  seat,  located  on  the  west  bank  of  Carson 
River,  and  reached  by  stage  via  Reno  and  Carson.  It  has  one  newspaper,  hotels,  stores, 
and  dwellings.    Other  towns  are  Monitor  and  Silver  Mountain. 

Topography.— It  is  a  mountain  county,  cut  by  a  succession  of  ranges  with  high  and 
precipitous  peaks,  interspersed  with  numerous  lakes,  rivers,  creeks,  and  small  valleys. 
Silver  Mountain,  the  highest,  has  an  altitude  of  10,000  feet.  Its  principal  lakes  and  small 
bodies  of  water  are  Blue  Lakes  and  Caples  Lakes,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 
There  are  numerous  other  smaller  lakes  throughout  the  county,  which  is  also  well  sup- 
plied with  numerous  brooks,  creeks,  rivulets,  and  rivers  heading  up  in  the  mountains, 
and  fed  by  the  lakes  and  the  melting  snows.  The  Carson  River,  with  its  east  and  west 
forks,  heading  in  the  southern  part,  flows  through  the  county  from  south  to  north,  with 
many  other  tributary  creeks  and  streams.  The  principal  mountain  valleys  are  Diamond, 
Hermit,  Pleasant,  Hope,  Faith,  and  Charity.    Diamond  Valley,  in  the  northeast,  con- 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES.  9 

tains  some  very  rich  and  productive  ranches,  raising  wheat,  barley,  oats,  hay,  and 
potatoes.  The  three  sister  valleys.  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity,  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  county,  are  7,500  feet  above  sea-level,  inhabited  only  by  stockmen  and  dairymen, 
and  only  during  the  brief  summer  season.  The  entire  western  portion  of  the  county 
is  a  wild,  mountainous  region,  with  grand  alpine-like  scenery,  wrapped  in  snow  from 
November  till  June,  pasturable  for  a  brief  summer  season,  and  covered  with  forests  of 
heavy  and  valuable  timber. 

Soils.— The  valley  soils  are  heavy  alluvium,  very  rich  and  fertile. 

Climate.— The  average  summer  temperature  is  75°.    The  winters  are  extremely  cold. 

Irrigation.— Little  irrigation  is  practiced,  the  16  miles  of  ditch  in  the  county  being 
originally  constructed  for  mining  purposes. 

Agriculture. — This  industry  is  confined  principally  to  grain,  hay,  and  potatoes, 
altogether  for  home  use.  The  dairy  interest  possesses  considerable  importance,  about 
30,000  pounds  of  excellent  butter  being  produced  annually. 

Horticulture.- No  interest  is  taken  in  horticulture,  apart  from  the  needs  of  home 
consumption— the  total  bearing  fruit  acreage  being  16,  and  non-bearing  12}4,  principally 
apples. 

Stock.— Its  stock  production  is  chiefly  cattle,  mostly  for  dairy  use,  and  some  sheep 
are  herded  there  during  the  summer  months. 

Timber.— The  timber  is  almost  entirely  undeveloped,  very  little  being  cut  since  the 
cessation  of  work  on  the  Comstock  mines,  and  is  awaiting  transportation  facilities  for 
its  development. 

Mining.— In  the  early  days  of  silver  mining,  this  county  was  the  scene  of  consider- 
able activity  aud  enterprise,  but  during  the  long  interval  from  then  till  now,  these 
interests  have  remained  dormant,  though  they  are  looking  more  promising  at  this  time. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts. — Though  this  county  is  isolated  and  somewhat 
difficult  of  access,  it  is  not  a  little  resorted  to  in  the  summer  by  pleasure  seekers,  on 
account  of  its  beautiful  mountains,  lakes,  and  scenery  and  its  mineral  springs,  of  only 
local  fame. 

AMADOR. 

Amador  County  is  bounded  north  by  El  Dorado,  east  by  Alpine,  south  by  Calaveras, 
and  west  by  Sacramento  County. 

Statistics. — Area,  650  square  miles,  or  416,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
100,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  252,717  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
14,143,312.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  2.00.  County  property,  5^80,000.  County 
debt,  none.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  9;  assessed  at  |64,037.  Number  of  schools, 
61.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,831.  School  money,  $43,981  35.  Popula- 
tion, census  of  1890,  10,315. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— The  county  seat  is  Jackson;  population,  1,200. 
The  principal  towns  are  lone,  population  1,000,  the  terminus  of  railroad  from  Gait,  on 
Western  Division  of  the  Southern  Pacific;  Sutter  Creek,  Plymouth,  Volcano,  Drytown, 
Amador,  Oleta,  Forest  Home,  and  Pine  Grove. 

Topography. — The  county  extends  from  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  range  to 
the  Sacramento  Valley.  The  eastern  portion  is  narrow,  and  for  a  distance  of  about  30 
miles  is  included  in  the  foothill  region,  ranging  in  elevation  from  2,000  to  4,000  feet  above 
sea-level.  The  surface  is  somewhat  rugged  and  broken,  and  cut  by  streams  running 
through  deep  canons.  The  remainder  of  the  county  belongs  to  the  lower  foothills,  with 
gradually  diminishing  elevation  as  it  approaches  the  valley.  This  section  contains 
numerous  fertile  valleys,  varying  from  3  to  6  miles  in  length  and  from  2  to  3  miles  in 
width.  lone  and  Jackson  Valleys  are  each  from  12  to  15  miles  long  and  from  2  to  5  miles 
wide.    The  lowest  altitude  of  the  county,  near  lone  City,  is  335  feet  above  sea-level. 

Soils.— Near  lone  and  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  county  the  soil  is  an  alluvial  deposit, 
deep  and  fertile,  sometimes  mixed  with  adobe.  Toward  the  foothills  this  changes  to  the 
red  adobe  so  characteristic  of  the  foothill  regions,  impregnated  with  iron,  and  forming 
the  best  of  fruit  land.  In  the  higher  foothills  this  changes  to  a  gravelly »character, 
terminating  in  rocks  in  the  mountain  regions. 

Climate.— The  climate  varies  with  the  topography,  in  the  lower  portions  similar  to 
the  Sacramento  Valley— summer  days  usually  warm,  sometimes  hot,  tempered  down  by 


10  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

afternoon  breezes,  and  cool  at  night.  The  winters  are  pleasant,  with  frosty  mornings, 
similar  to  Sacramento,  though  with  more  bracing  and  clearer  air,  owing  to  greater 
altitude.  The  highest  altitudes  are  cool  and  spring-like  in  summer,  and  decidedly  cold 
in  winter,  with  biting  frosts  and  heavy  snowfalls.  Average  annual  rainfall  at  Jackson 
for  ten  years,  31.81  inches;  average  annual  rainfall  at  lone  for  ten  years,  19.63  inches. 
The  difference  is  due  to  difference  in  elevation  and  topography. 

Irrigation. — There  are  108  miles  of  water  ditch  and  flume  in  the  county,  assessed  at 
1180,000.  These  were  primarily  constructed  for  mining,  but  are  used  for  irrigation, 
though  very  little,  if  any,  is  necessary.    The  water  charges  are  reasonable. 

Agriculture.— The  production  of  hay,  grain,  alfalfa,  and  vegetables  is  naturally 
limited  to  the  demands  of  home  consumption.  Where  suitable  soils  are  selected,  how- 
ever, the  yield  is  large. 

Horticulture. — Amador  is  making  considerable  progress  in  fruit  raising.  The  prin- 
cipal fruit  sections  are  lone  and  Jackson  Valleys.  The  grape  is  the  favorite  fruit  for  the 
most  part,  and  thrives  on  the  foothill  soil,  growing  without  irrigation.  Peaches,  apples, 
prunes,  plums,  apricots,  pears,  and  other  deciduous  fruits  are  grown  in  minor  quantities. 
The  olive  and  fig,  wherever  grown,  do  well.  English  walnuts,  almonds,  and  other  nuts 
also  thrive  in  these  sections.  The  apples  in  the  higher  footliills  possess  the  finest  flavor 
and  keeping  qualities.  The  same  warm  belt  as  found  in  Butte,  Placer,  and  El  Dorado 
traverses  this  county  also,  and  in  properly  selected  spots  oranges  and  lemons  of  remark- 
able size  and  quality  are  produced.  Acres  in  fruit  trees,  1,073 — bearing,  445;  not  bearing, 
628.  Fruit  is  shipped  either  to  Stockton,  San  Francisco,  or  Sacramento,  where  con- 
siderable finds  its  way  to  the  canneries.  Much  fruit  is  dried  in  the  county.  The  dis- 
trict needs  a  cannery. 

FootMll  Experiment  Station.— The  Foothill  Experiment  Station  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity is  located  in  this  county,  5  miles  from  Jackson,  on  the  Amador  Ditch.  It  contains 
36  acres,  and  is  devoted  to  the  purposes  of  testing  the  adaptation  of  soils  and  location 
to  the  various  fruits,  trees,  and  vines,  deciduous  and  citrus. 

Timber. — There  are  large  amounts  of  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar 
timber  in  the  mountains,  though  vast  quantities  have  been  used  in  the  mines. 

Mining.— The  quartz  mining  industry  is  very  extensive;  the  annual  gold  bullion 
product  is  about  $2,000,000.  There  are  25  quartz  mills  in  operation,  working  on  the 
product  of  the  various  mines,  chiefly  located  on  the  great  ilother  Lode,  which  traverses 
this  county.  In  the  revival  of  gold  mining  in  California,  which  now  seems  imminent, 
Amador  County  is  destined  to  be  among  the  first.  Much  foreign  capital  has  recently 
come  in  and  many  properties  are  changing  hands.  The  county  is  rich,  also,  in  marble, 
freestone,  limestone,  and  copper,  and  near  lone,  at  Carbondale,  and  other  localities, 
coal  of  the  lignite  character  is  found,  and  mines  are  being  worked.  Large  deposits  of 
aluminium  clay  are  found  here. 

BUTTE. 

Butte  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tehama  and  Plumas,  on  the  east  by  Plumas 
and  Yuba,  on  the  south  by  Yuba  and  Sutter,  and  on  the  west  by  Colusa,  Glenn,  and 
Tehama  Counties.  The  Sacramento  River  runs  along  its  extreme  western  boundary. 
It  is  about  60  miles  wide  east  and  west,  and  80  miles  from  north  to  south. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,765  square  miles,  or  1,200,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
100,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  790,414  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
118,104,974.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.40.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  59.90; 
assessed  at  $856,198.  County  property,  $50,000.  County  debt,  $52,250  33.  Number  of 
schools,  74.  Number  of  school  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,187.  Public  school 
money,  $92,968  92.     Population,  census  of  1890,  17,904. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Oroville,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of  2,000. 
The  other  principal  towns  are  Chico,  population  2,892;  Biggs,  population  1,000;  Gridley, 
Nord,  Nelson,  Durliam,  and  Palermo,  population  600.  There  are  also  many  other  smaller 
towns.  Oroville,  the  county  seat,  is  located  on  the  Feather  River,  about  30  miles  from 
Marysville,  with  which  place  it  is  connected  by  railroad.  This  is  the  distributing  point 
of  supplies  for  the  mining  and  milling  districts  in  a  growing  area  of  100  miles  square, 
north  and  east.  It  possesses  banks,  hotels,  two  newspapers,  fine  churches,  flour  mills. 
foundries,  and  schools,  and  large  and  substantial  brick  business  buildings.    Average 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     RESOURCES.  11 

annual  temperature,  64.9°;  average  winter  temperature,  52°;  average  coldest  month,  49.4°; 
lowest,  20.1°— higher  than  Jacksonville,  Florida;  same  as  Mediterranean  coast  of  France. 

Chico,  with  a  population  of  2,892,  the  largest  town  in  the  county,  and  the  center  of 
fruit  shipments,  is  situated  about  5  miles  from  the  Sacramento  River,  on  the  Oregon 
Division  of  the  Southern  Pacitic  Railroad.  It  has  two  daily  newspapers,  two  banks, 
large  hotels,  gas  and  waterworks,  roller  flour  mills,  and  numerous  other  manufactories. 
The  Branch  State  Normal  School  for  the  northern  part  of  the  State  is  located  here. 

Gridley  has  a  weekly  newspaper,  lumber  yard,  flour  mills,  and  over  forty  brick  busi- 
ness houses. 

Biggs  is  an  important  shipping  point  for  grain.  It  has  two  newspapers,  hotels,  and 
many  business  buildings. 

Moore's  Station  is  a  thriving  town,  and  the  terminus  of  a  large  flume,  by  which  an 
immense  amount  of  sugar  pine  and  other  lumber  is  floated  from  the  mountains. 
Large  quantities  are  stored  and  shipped  here. 

Topography. — The  area  of  Butte  County  comprises  595  square  miles  of  valley  land, 
965  square  miles  of  foothill  land,  and  160  square  miles  of  mountain  land.  Of  the  valley 
land,  70  square  miles  is  treeless,  adobe  soil.  The  Sierra  Nevada  IMountains,  on  the  east, 
are  not  so  lofty  and  precipitous  as  in  many  other  sections  of  the  State,  and  no  snow 
remains  on  them  during  the  summer.  The  mountains  are  heavily  timbered  and  abound 
with  grassy  meadows.  The  Sacramento  River  skirts  the  western  boundary,  and  the 
county  is  traversed  in  a  direction  from  north  to  south  by  the  Feather  River,  a  tributary 
of  the  Sacramento,  and  having  three  branches  from  the  mountains,  uniting  about  3 
miles  above  Oroville.  Butte  and  Chico  Creeks  are  quite  large  streams,  and  run  into  the 
Sacramento  north  of  and  parallel  with  the  Feather  River.  These,  with  a  number  of 
minor  streams,  all  fed  by  the  mountains,  and  flowing  southwesterly  through  the  plains, 
render  this  county  one  of  the  best  watered  in  the  State. 

Soils. — The  soil  may  be  divided  into  four  classes:  Black  adobe  around  Biggs;  Nelson 
and  Durham  are  better  adapted  to  cereals.  Mixed  clay  and  adobe  at  Dayton,  Chico, 
and  Nord — good  grain,  hay,  and  fruit  lands.  Red  soil  of  the  foothills— excellent  for 
fruit,  and  by  many  experts  regarded  as  the  very  best  for  horticultural  pursuits.  River 
bottom,  alluvial,  of  a  sandy  loam,  very  rich,  and  easily  worked;  equally  good  for  all 
vegetable  growths. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  as  varied  as  the  topography;  mild  and  equable  in  the  val- 
leys and  lower  foothills,  with  occasional  hot  days  in  summer,  and  in  winter  the  cold  is 
never  severe,  the  thermometer  for  sixteen  j^ears  showing  no  record  below  22°  above 
zero.  The  higher  foothills  give  less  heat  in  summer,  and  about  the  same  winter  cold  as 
in  the  valleys.  The  high  mountains  are  balmy  and  spring-like  in  summer,  while  in 
winter  a  severe  Eastern  temperature  prevails.  Chico,  highest  summer  temperature, 
111°;  lowest  winter,  28°;  mean  annual  rainfall  at  Chico,  21.78  inches. 

Irrigation, — Butte  County  possesses  abundant  irrigation  facilities.  Two  large  canals 
terminate  at  Oroville,  constructed  originally  for  mining,  and  now  used  for  irrigation. 
An  immense  scheme  is  under  way  for  diverting  water  from  Feather  River,  where 
it  leaves  Big  Bend  Tunnel,  to  the  east  and  west,  into  two  large  canals,  which  will  afford 
suflScient  water  for  all  the  arable  land  of  the  county.  A  canal  is  being  extended  from 
Oroville  to  Biggs,  and  farther  west,  which  will  supply  water  from  the  Feather  River  to 
a  large  fruit  district.  While  most  of  the  lands  adjoining  the  streams  are  alluvial  in 
character,  and  do  not  require  much  irrigation,  especially  in  view  of  the  abundant 
annual  rainfall,  still  the  discrete  use  of  water  in  irrigation  will  give  the  best  results 
in  many  of  the  districts  devoted  to  fruit  culture,  and  is  indispensable  in  the  raising  of 
nursery  stock.  This  is  especially  true  in  districts  like  the  prosperous  colonies  of  Ther- 
malito  and  Palermo,  where  orange  culture  is  so  extensive  an  industry.  The  county  has 
331  miles  of  canals,  assessed  at  $316,160. 

Agriculture.— In  the  production  of  grain,  Butte  is  one  of  the  best  sections.  Large 
acreages  are  annually  in  wheat,  and  the  yield  is  large.  The  different  towns  along  the 
railroad  are  well  supplied  with  large  storage  warehouses  to  handle  the  immense  product. 
We  have  no  statistics  at  hand  to  give  the  exact  output.  Alfalfa  fields  in  the  bottom 
lands,  without  irrigation,  yield  immensely,  giving  four  crops  in  the  year. 

Horticulture. — Since  1886  the  horticultural  industries  of  Butte  County  have  made 
wonderful  strides,  bringing  into  prosperous  bearing  such  colonies  as  Rio  Bonito,.Ther- 


12  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

malito,  Palermo,  and  others,  until  the  county  now  stands  up  in  the  first  rank.  The 
Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  770,000  fruit  trees  already  planted  in  this  county,  which 
places  it  seventh  among  the  counties  of  the  State,  being  exceeded  only  in  number  by  Los 
Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  San  Diego,  Santa  Clara,  Solano,  and  Sonoma.  There  are  2,264 
acres  in  orange  trees,  which  brings  it  to  the  fourth  in  rank  among  the  citrus  counties  of 
the  State.  There  are  about  800  acres  in  grapes;  only  seven  other  counties  show  greater 
acreage.  Citrus  fruits  do  well  over  a  large  area,  and  Butte  is  the  leader  in  quantity  in 
the  Northern  Citrus  Belt.  She  has  taken  many  premiums  for  citrus  fruits  and  shipped 
largely  to  Eastern  markets.  The  first  carload  of  oranges  from  this  State  to  the  East 
during  the  season  of  1891-2,  was  shipped  from  Butte  County,  December  12,  1891.  Her 
orchards  embrace  some  very  large  ones — one  of  1,750  acres,  one  of  500  acres,  one  of 
300  acres,  one  of  200  acres,  and  many  of  100  acres  and  over.  In  deciduous  fruits, 
almonds,  and  figs,  she  stands  in  the  front  rank.  Peaches  find  a  natural  home  here, 
doing  well  and  making  phenomenal  growth  throughout  the  entire  fruit  district.  Cher- 
ries are  a  favorite  and  large  crop.  Apricots  nearly  rank  with  them.  Large  quantities 
of  the  soft  or  paper-shell  almonds  were  marketed  in  the  East  last  fall  at  20  cents  a 
pound.  Her  raisin  product  is  also  extensive.  Prunes  and  plums  are  an  excellent  crop, 
also  apples  in  the  higher  altitudes.  Samples  of  the  White  Adriatic  fig,  dried,  show  up 
almost  equal  to  the  imported  Smyrna.  She  has  a  large  acreage  in  olives.  In  a  word, 
there  is  scarcely  a  fruit  or  nut  of  the  temperate  and  semi-tropic  zones  which  cannot 
be  profitably  raised  in  Butte  County.  Butte  markets  her  fruit,  both  dried  and  green,  by 
shipments  to  the  East,  and  at  her  local  and  the  ^Slarysville  canneries.  The  estimated 
output  for  1892  is  8,595,000  pounds.  The  famous  Bidwell  orchard  of  Chico  is  the  oldest 
and  largest  orchard  in  the  county,  which  furnished  5,348,679  pounds  of  fruit  in  1891. 
The  State  Board  of  Horticulture  reports  in  the  county:  acres  in  fruit,  bearing,  4,315;  not 
bearing,  8,370;  total,  12,685.  Of  course  the  estimates  of  the  Assessor  err  on  the  side  of 
conservatism. 

Stock  and  Dairying. — Large  bands  of  cattle  and  sheep  are  herded  during  the  summer 
in  the  mountains  and  in  the  rich  mountain  meadows,  which  are  well  watered  and 
are  clothed  with  rich  natural  grasses.  A  large  amount  of  timothy  hay  is  raised  in  the 
mountain  meadows  of  Butte,  and  the  dairy  interest  is  very  extensive  and  profitable,  the 
best  of  products  being  turned  out  under  these  favorable  conditions.  Assessor's  report 
for  1892  shows:  Horses,  9,251;  mules,  2,240;  cattle,  12,495;  sheep,  46,134;  hogs,  8,501;  goats, 
660.  :Much  butter  is  made,  especially  in  the  mountains,  where  timothy  hay  and  natural 
grasses  are  abundant. 

Timber. — The  timber  is  extensive  and  valuable,  sugar  pine  leading  in  value,  followed 
by  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar,  and  an  immense  amount  has  been  put  into  market  during  the 
past  thirty  years,  averaging  over  25,000,000  feet  a  j-ear.  There  are  a  large  number  of 
mills  at  work  in  the  mountains,  and  their  product  is  shipped  by  extensive  V  flumes 
and  by  teams  to  the  railroad.  A  large  number  of  men  find  employment  as  loggers, 
millmen,  and  teamsters.    There  are  eleven  lumber  mills  in  the  county. 

Mining. — The  Big  Bend  Tunnel  diverts  from  its  channel  for  13  miles  the  waters  of 
the  North  Fork  of  Feather  River.  Over  $1,000,000  capital  is  invested  in  this  enterprise, 
and  immense  yields  of  gold  are  looked  for  from  the  dry  bed  of  the  river. 

It  is  difficult  to  give  accurate  figures  of  the  output  of  gold  since  the  inception  of 
mining,  but  it  has  certainly  reached  hundreds  of  millions;  single  mines  have  yielded 
$5,000,000  each,  and  the  annual  yield  for  many  years  was  over  .$20,000,000.  Many  large 
quartz  and  drift  enterprises  are  now  being  worked,  and  the  new  law  of  Congress,  relative 
to  hydraulic  mining,  must  greatly  stimulate  these  industries  and  increase  the  annual 
yield.  Six  or  seven  new  quartz  mills,  and  many  new  ledges,  were  opened  during  the 
past  year. 

Manufactures.— Aside  from  the  saw  mills,  which  do  the  most  manufacturing,  the 
flour  mills  of  Butte  are  numerous,  located  at  Oroville,  Chico,  Durham,  Gridley,  and 
other  towns,  and  turn  out  a  large  annual  product.  All  the  leading  towns  have  their 
fair  proportion  of  manufacturing  industries.  There  are  also  several  fruit  and  vegetable 
canneries. 

Prices  of  Land.— Prices  range  from  $10,  in  the  more  remote  and  virgin  districts,  to 
$100  per  acre  for  the  best  alluvial  lands,  not  including  improvements.  Liberal  induce- 
ments, on  easy  terms  of  payment,  are  offered  to  the  settlers  by  various  companies. 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES.  13 


CALAVERAS. 


Calaveras  County  is  bounded  north  by  Amador,  east  by  Alpine  and  Tuolumne, 
south  by  Tuolumne  and  Stanislaus,  and  west  by  Stanislaus  and  San  Joaquin  Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  971  square  miles,  or  668,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
175,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  405,933  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
14,256,898.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.75.  County  property,  $26,000.  County 
debt,  .$28,054.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  10.46;  assessed  at  $84,618.  Number  of 
schools,  59.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,361.  School  money,  .$39,618  58. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  8,970. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Its  county  seat  and  principal  town  is  San 
Andreas,  population  600;  altitude,  1,600  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Other  towns  are 
Jlilton,  Valley  Springs,  ^Mokelumne  Hill,  Sheep  Kanch,  Murphys,  Altaville,  Angel's 
Camp,  Vallecito,  and  Copperopolis. 

Topography.— Beginning  near  the  plains  in  the  western  part  it  is  first  a  succession 
of  rolling  hills  interspersed  with  small  valleys,  up  to  loftier  hills  until  it  terminates  in 
mountains  in  the  eastern  part,  the  whole  varying  in  elevation  from  less  than  100  feet 
above  sea-level  to  over  5,000  feet  in  the  eastern  extremit3\  The  altitude  of  Milton  and 
Valley  Springs  is  about  1,000  feet;  San  Andreas,  1,600  feet;  IMurphys,  2,300  feet;  Big 
Trees,  4,700  feet.  On  its  northern  boundary  runs  the  ^lokelumne  lliver,  on  the  south 
the  Stanislaus,  and  through  it  midway  between,  the  Calaveras,  all  possessing  numerous 
tributary  streams.  The  lower  portions  show  oak  and  pine  sparsely  scattered;  the 
higher  altitudes  are  most  densely  timbered  with  gigantic  trees.  The  JNIother  Lode  of 
Amador  County  also  extends  through  this  county.  There  are  about  790  square  miles 
in  the  foothill  region,  and  180  in  the  mountainous  region. 

Soils.— The  soil  is  very  variable,  each  desirable  for  its  special  adaptations.  The  higher 
mountains  are  mostly  gigantic  bowlders  and  ledges  of  granite.  We  have  first,  the  black, 
sandy  loam  of  the  bottom  lands,  then  the  alluvial  soils  bordering  on  the  plains,  then 
the  red  loam  of  the  foothills,  then  the  upper,  purely  granitic  soils.  The  red  soils  of  the 
foothills  are  well  adapted  for  fruit  and  grain  and  stand  judicious  irrigation  with  best 
results. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Amador  County.  The  average 
annual  rainfall  at  Valley  Springs  is  about  20  inches,  increasing  as  the  altitude  increases 
■up  to  the  snow  line — the  average  for  the  county  being  about  25  inches.  The  snowfall 
in  the  mountains  is  always  heav}'  enough  to  insure  abundance  of  water  for  the  streams 
and  irrigating  and  mining  ditches.  The  western  part,  for  32  miles,  has  an  average 
annual  temperature  of  60°  to  68°;  the  upper  foothills,  up  to  the  snow  line,  from  44°  to 
52°.  In  summer  a  midday  temperature  of  100°  may  occasionally  be  reached,  but  the 
nights  are  invariably  cool  and  refreshing. 

Irrigation.— The  canal  and  irrigation  system  in  this  county  is  very  extensive,  owing 
to  the  large  number  of  mines  in  ojieration,  and  water  can  be  taken  from  them  in  most 
any  of  the  lower  parts  of  the  county.  There  are  eleven  systems,  or  over  600  miles,  of 
canal,  and  many  storage  reservoirs,  assessed  at  $145,750.  Water  is  supplied  at  about 
12>^  cents  per  miner's  inch  a  day. 

Agriculture.— The  western  and  northwestern  portions  of  the  county  are  mainly 
devoted  to  raising  wheat  and  barley,  both  for  grain  and  hay,  much  of  which  is  shipped 
out  of  the  county,  but  the  largest  quantity  is  marketed  at  home  among  the  mines 
and  in  stock  sections.  Calaveras  does  not  pretend  to  much  rank  as  a  grain-shipping 
county.  Of  course  alfalfa  and  vegetables  are  raised  abundantly  for  stock  or  home 
consumption.    The  dairying  interest  derives  its  profit  from  local  consumption. 

Horticulture. — The  county  produces  a  long  line  of  fruits,  both  deciduous  and  citrus, 
although  its  record  is  not  great  in  this  line  of  production,  owing  to  the  lack  of  railroad 
transportation.  Wherever  attention  has  been  given  to  fruit  raising  the  most  excellent 
results  have  been  obtained.  The  entire  range  of  peaches,  plums,  prunes,  apples,  grapes, 
figs,  olives,  almonds  and  other  nuts,  apricots,  and  small  fruits,  and  most  excellent 
oranges  are  raised  in  a  number  of  places.  The  fruit  industry  only  needs  transportation 
to  develop  into  large  proportions.  At  Campo  Seco  there  are  orange  trees  thirty  years 
old  bearing  paying  crops  yearly.  Oranges  are  also  successfully  raised  at  Jenny  Lind, 
Poverty  Bar,  Robinson's  Ferry,  San  Andreas,  and  Mokelumne  Hill,  even  at  an  altitude 


14  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

of  1,300  feet.  Olives  do  equally  well  and  large  numbers  have  been  planted.  Many 
Stockton  business  men  are  interested  in  Calaveras  fruit  growing.  There  is  a  buhac  (or 
insect  powder)  farm  near  Comanche.  Nearly  200  tons  of  green  and  dried  fruits  were 
shipped  from  the  county  in  1892.  The  wine  industry  is  also  extensive  in  Calaveras,  the 
vineyards  doing  splendidly.  There  are  fruit  trees  in  the  county,  bearing,  791  acres;  not 
bearing,  552  acres.  The  principal  fruit  sections  are  Valley  Springs,  Burson,  Wallace, 
Campo  Seco,  and  Jenny  Lind. 

Stock.— Large  numbers  of  cattle  and  sheep  are  raised  in  this  county,  and  the  mount- 
ains are  extensively  used  during  the  summer  months  for  herding  numerous  bands  from 
the  lower  country  and  from  the  plains  of  the  San  Joaquin.  Assessor's  report  for  1892 
shows  4,360  horses,  14,127  cattle,  150  mules,  26,070  sheep,  and  3,100  goats. 

Timber.— The  timber  resources  are  enormous.  Large  amounts  have  been  used  in  the 
mines  and  locally,  yet  the  vastly  greater  portion  in  the  mountains  has  been  untouched. 
Sugar  pine,  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar  abound.  About  4,000,000  feet  of  lumber  i 
and  2,000,000  shingles  are  manufactured  annually,  in  which  industry  six  or  seven  mills  II 
are  actively  engaged.  Railroad  facilities,  an  extension  of  which  is  now  being  urged  in  i 
the  immediate  future  from  Milton  and  Valley  Springs  to  the  Big  Trees  and  vicinity,  |, 
will  vastly  increase  this  output  and  add  immensely  to  the  resources  of  the  county. 

Mining.— There  are  over  one  hundred  quartz  and  gravel  mines  in  Calaveras,  distrib-     I 
uted  throughout  the  upper  foothills  and  mountains,  at  San  Andrfeas,  Mokelumne  Hill,     j 
Sheep  Ranch,  Murphys,  Angel's  Camp,  Carson    Hill,  Altaville,  Vallecito,  Robinson's     j 
Ferry,  Albany  Flat,  Railroad  Flat,  West  Point,  and  other  places,  whose  output  of  gold     ' 
almost  equals,  if  it  does  not  surpass,  that  of  Amador.    There  are  several  chlorination     i 
and  reduction  works  in  the  mining  regions,  of  large  capacity,  for  handling  sulphurets     i 
and  rebellious  ores.    There  are  several  copper  mines,  also,  at  Copperpolis  and  Campo     I 
Seco.    Valley  Springs  ships  20  tons  daily,  and  Copperopolis  15  tons.    The  United  States     , 
cruisers,  "Charleston"  and  "San  Francisco,"  were  sheathed  with  copper  from  these  mines. 
Iron,  limestone,  marble,  and  granite  of  finest  quality,  and  lignite  coal  also  abound,  only 
awaiting  development.    Over  $500,000  of  English  and  San  Francisco  capital  has  been 
expended  on  mine  and  mill  developments  and  constructions  during  the  past  year. 

Pleasure  Resorts.— The  Calaveras  Big  Trees,  altitude  4,700  feet,  are  well  worthy  the 
tourist's  attention. 

COLUSA. 

Colusa  County  is  bounded  north  by  Glenn,  east  by  Sutter,  south  by  Yolo,  and  west 
by  Lake  County. 

Statistics.— Area,  about  1,200  square  miles,  or  about  768,000  acres.  Lands  assessed, 
572,483  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $13,390,320.  Rate  of  taxation, 
1.20.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  33.91;  assessed  at  $271,438.  County  property, 
$100,000.  County  debt,  none.  Number  of  schools,  37.  School  children  between  5  and  17 
years,  2,098.  School  money,  $45,593  38.  Population,  estimated  after  division  and  forma- 
tion of  Glenn  County,  census  of  1890,  8,352. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Colusa,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of 
1,336,  by  census  of  1890.  Other  towns  are:  Maxwell,  population  500;  Williams,  popula- 
tion 1,000;  Arbuckle;  College  City,  population  600,  etc. 

Colusa,  the  county  seat,  is  a  flourishing  and  pleasant  town,  with  a  bank,  hotels,  sev- 
eral fine  public  buildings  and  churches,  first-class  schools,  two  newspapers,  and  many 
handsome  residences. 

College  City  is  the  seat  of  Pierce  College.    It  is  a  strictly  prohibition  town. 

Williams  has  a  newspaper,  large  grain  warehouses,  fine  business  buildings  and 
residences. 

From  Sites,  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  from  Colusa,  stages  take  tourists  to  the 
famous  Bartlett  Springs  of  Lake  County,  near  the  western  boundary  of  Colusa  County. 

Topography.— Of  the  entire  area  of  the  county,  approximately,  one  half  is  the  Sacra- 
mento Valley,  one  third  arable  hills,  and  one  tenth  interior  valleys,  the  balance  being 
mountainous.  A  range  of  hills  runs  north  and  south  through  the  county,  parallel  with 
the  Coast  Range,  which  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  county.  Between  these  is 
a  series  of  smaller  valleys.  Stony  Creek  heads  within  20  miles  of  the  south  boundary 
of  the  county,  separated  by  a  small  divide  from  the  waters  of  Cache  Creek.    It  thence 


CALIFORNIA    AND     ITER     RESOURCES.  15 

runs  northerly,  skirting  the  base  of  the  mountains,  to  the  northern  boundary  of  Glenn 
County;  then  breaks  through  the  range  of  low  hills  and  flows  southeasterly  across  the 
valley  to  the  Sacramento  River.  Several  other  streams,  nearly  as  important,  heading 
in  the  Coast  Range,  How  through  Yolo  and  Solano  Counties  into  the  tule  basin.  The 
Sacramento  River,  which  skirts  the  eastern  boundary  of  Colusa  County,  runs  on  a 
slight  ridge  which  is  higher  than  the  lands  lying  west  of  it,  and  the  smaller  streams, 
which  only  run  in  wet  winters  from  the  hills  below,  empty  into  the  trough  thus  formed. 
This  trough  begins  6  or  7  miles  south  of  the  mouth  of  Stony  Creek,  and,  gradually 
widening,  becomes  a  tule  basin  near  the  lower  end  of  the  county. 

Soils.— Along  the  river,  bordering  the  hills,  and  in  many  of  the  smaller  valleys,  the 
soil  is  a  loose,  rich,  sandy  loam,  easily  worked,  retaining  moisture  and  very  fertile.  In 
some  places  it  is  adobe,  a  light  or  heavy  clayey  soil,  producing  excellent  crops,  but  must 
be  properly  cultivated  and  at  the  right  time.  The  foothill  soil  is  rich,  mellow,  easily 
worked,  and  possesses  every  element  of  adaptation  to  the  production,  in  perfection,  of 
all  fruits  known  to  temperate  or  semi-tropic  countries.  The  main  valley  is  all  alluvial, 
and  has  given  Colusa  County  the  distinction  of  being  for  years  the  banner  wheat  county 
of  the  United  States. 

Climate. — The  climate  does  not  vary  much  from  a  great  portion  of  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  except  that  the  summer  temperature  is  lower  along  the  river  bordered  by  timber 
growth  than  on  the' plains  and  among  the  foothills  devoid  of  timber.  In  lower  eleva- 
tions the  days  are  warm  from  the  middle  of  June  to  the  middle  of  September,  but 
delightful  through  the  remaining  nine  months.  The  dryness  of  the  air  in  summer 
makes  the  nights  refreshing.  In  winter  some  frosts  occur.  The  rains  in  the  valleys  and 
on  the  foothills  begin  in  October  and  continue  at  intervals  till  j\Iay.  The  climate  of  the 
Coast  Range  on  the  western  boundary  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  healthful  in  the 
world.  The  average  summer  temperature  is  79.6°.  The  average  winter  temperature 
is  48.5°.  The  highest  occasional  extreme  is  113°  and  the  lowest  20°  for  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  taken  from  observations  at  Colusa,  Princeton,  Williams,  Willows,  Orland,  and 
College  City.    The  average  annual  rainfall  for  the  same  localities  is  14.42  inches. 

Irrigation.— Although  in  many  places  in  the  county  irrigation  is  not  required  for  any 
form  of  vegetation,  yet  over  the  greater  portion  it  is  essential  for  the  best  results,  for  all 
growths  except  cereals.  An  extensive  scheme  of  irrigation  has  been  inaugurated  by  the 
Central  Irrigation  District,  organized  December,  1887.  The  district  extends  from  10  miles 
north  of  Willows,  in  Glenn  County,  southward  for  nearly  40  miles,  and  has  an  average 
width  of  6  or  7  miles.  It  will  draw  its  water  from  the  Sacramento  River  by  a  canal, 
which,  at  its  beginning,  will  have  a  width  on  the  bottom  of  60  feet  and  on  top  of  96  feet, 
with  a  depth  of  6  feet;  20  miles  south  this  is  reduced  to  79  feet  in  width.  At  its  terminus 
it  will  show  25  feet  bottom  and  49  feet  surface  width.  Thirty  miles  of  this  work  has 
been  satisfactorily  completed.  The  cost  of  preparing  lands  for  irrigation  in  this  district 
■will  be  comparatively  small,  because  they  are  of  so  uniform  a  grade.  The  lands  slope 
to  the  east  about  10  feet  to  the  mile  at  first,  decreasing  to  5  feet  and  less  near  the  eastern 
boundary. 

Agriculture . — The  main  part  of  the  valley  is  devoted  to  wheat  production.  Before  the 
segregation  of  Glenn  County  on  the  north,  Colusa  in  one  year  produced  7,250,000 
bushels  of  wheat  for  export.  Grain  farming  is  conducted  on  a  colossal  scale.  Combined 
harvesters,  drawn  by  traction  engines,  cut  a  swath  of  40  feet;  the  grain  in  sacks  being 
thrown  off  at  the  rear.  The  same  engines,  in  plowing  season,  drag  twenty-four  ten-inch 
plows,  doing  in  twelve  hours  the  work  of  one  hundred  mules  for  the  same  time.  The 
grain  ranches  are  mostly  owned  in  very  large  acreage. 

Horticulture. — Although  not  much  attention  was  paid  to  fruit  culture  prior  to  1884-5, 
since  that  period  the  industry  has  made  rapid  strides.  All  the  temperate  and  semi- 
tropic  fruits  grow  successfully  side  by  side  in  this  county.  There  is  a  wide  range  of 
adaptability  in  the  soil  and  climate.  Prunes  are  a  favorite  crop,  next  peaches,  pears, 
and  apricots;  also  cherries,  plums,  nectarines,  almonds,  walnuts,  and  other  nuts, 
olives,  grapes  for  raisins,  for  table  use,  and  for  wine,  and  apples  in  the  higher  altitudes. 
Citrus  fruits  are  also  successfully  grown,  and  although  not  much  extensive  planting  has 
been  done,  they  can  be  grown  as  successfully  as  in  other  sections  for  the  purpose  of 
profit  and  foreign  shipment.  The  raisin  grape  thrives  abundantly  near  College  City, 
Colusa,  and  other  points,  and  over  80  tons  of  raisins  were  shipped  in  one  season 


16  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

from  this  section.  The  fruits  of  Colusa  are  marketed  by  green  shipment  to  Sacramento 
and  the  East,  by  drying,  and  at  the  local  canneries.  Colusa  supports  a  drying  and  pack- 
ing establishment  which  put  up  over  4,300  cases  in  1891,  and  last  season  this  output  was 
largely  exceeded.  The  dried  fruit  shipments  for  the  same  period  consisted  of  apricots, 
peaches,  prunes,  pears,  nectarines,  and  almonds,  and  amounted  to  168  tons.  The  prices 
for  green  fruit  were  about  1  cent  a  pound  on  the  trees.  In  the  season  of  1892  deciduous 
fruits  brought  from  1^^  to  2  cents  a  pound  on  the  trees.  The  acreage  in  fruit  trees  is, 
bearing,  930;  not  bearing,  1,218. 

Stock. — The  cattle,  horses,  and  sheep  raised  in  Colusa  County  are  verj^  numerous  and 
of  tine  grades,  though  the  stock  business  is  subordinate  to  and  dependent  on  the  agri- 
cultural and  fruit  interests.  The  hog  product  is  quite  large.  Assessor's  report  for  1892 
shows:  Horses,  6,293;  mules,  3,264;  cattle,  7,9G5;  hogs,  10,874;  sheep,  25,788;  goats,  3,563; 
poultry,  1,550  dozen. 

Timber.— The  scattering  oak  in  the  county  along  the  streams  and  in  the  foothills  is 
used  for  fuel.  The  pine,  spruce,  and  cedar  in  the  mountains  are  not  so  readily  accessi- 
ble as  in  other  districts,  nor  so  valuable,  and  have  not,  therefore,  been  much  encroached 
upon. 

Mining. — This  is  not  in  general  a  mining  county,  though  in  the  Coast  Range  there 
are  deposits  of  gold,  cinnabar,  copper,  and  chromic  iron,  lying  ready  for  future  develop- 
ment. A  good  quality  of  limestone  is  also  found,  and  a  fine  cement  in  unlimited  quan- 
tities. In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county  there  are  surface  indications  of  oil  and 
natural  gas,  and  near  Sites  salt  springs  are  found. 

Prices  of  Land.— The  prices  of  unimproved  land  in  Colusa  County  range  from  $10  to 
|50  an  acre,  according  to  the  location  and  fertility,  and  nearness  to  rail  and  river 
transportation. 

CONTRA    COSTA. 

Contra  Costa  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  San  Joaquin  River,  which  sep- 
arates it  from  Sacramento  County,  and  by  San  Pablo  Bay,  Suisun  Bay,  and  Straits  of 
Carquinez,  on  the  east  by  Old  River,  separating  it  from  San  Joaquin  County,  on  the 
south  by  Alameda  County,  on  the  west  by  Alameda  County  and  San  Francisco  Bay. 

Statistics.— Area,  734  square  miles,  or  489,760  acres.  Lands  assessed,  462,271  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $15,686,308.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.20.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  72.35;  assessed  at  $773,625.  County  propertj',  $46,000. 
County  debt,  $8,000.    Number  of  schools,  75.    Number  of  school  children  between  5  and 

17  years,  3,441.    Public  school  money,  $88,486  50.    Population,  census  of  1890,  13,503. 
County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Martinez,  population  about  2,000,  is  the  county 

seat.  The  principal  towns  are  Antioch,  Brentwood,  Byron,  Concord,  Clayton,  and  Port 
Costa. 

Martinez  is  connected  by  rail  with  San  Francisco  and  Oakland,  and  with  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley.  It  also  is  the  terminus  of  a  branch  of  the  San  Ramon  Railroad,  run- 
ning through  the  Pacheco,  Ignacio,  and  San  Ramon  Valleys.  It  has  banks,  two  news- 
papers, good  hotels,  public  buildings,  and  large  warehouses,  fruit  cannery,  flour  mills, 
and  fine  residences  with  grounds  lined  with  shrubbery,  vines,  and  fruit  trees.  It  also 
has  a  daily  steamer  connection  with  San  Francisco  and  Stockton. 

Antioch  is  on  the  bank  of  the  San  Joaquin,  where  the  largest  ocean  vessels  can  load. 
It  is  the  shipping  point  for  the  Mount  Diablo  coal  mines;  is  provided  with  lai'ge  ware- 
houses, and  has  paper  mills  and  the  largest  distillery  in  the  State. 

Brentwood  and  Byron  are  the  shipping  centers  of  60,000  acres  of  choice  wheat-pro- 
ducing land,  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad. 

Port  Costa  is  the  shipping  point  for  the  bulk  of  the  grain  raised  in  California;  has 
warehouses  for  storing  over  135,000  tons  of  grain,  with  a  dock  frontage  of  2,300  feet, 
affording  facilities  for  loading  from  eight  to  ten  large  ocean  ships  at  the  same  time. 

At  Pinole  are  located  large  stockyards;  near  Vallejo  Junction,  the  largest  smelting 
works  in  the  State;  at  Vallona  are  extensive  lumber  yards,  where  ships  from  Oregon 
and  Puget  Sound  discharge  cargo.  At  Crockett  are  flour  mills  of  the  capacity  of  9,000 
barrels  a  day;  also  agricultural  works. 

Topography.— Southeasterly  across  the  county,  and  parallel  with  the  coast,  the  sec- 
ond great  and  distinct  range  of  mountains  forms  a  natural  division  between  the  east- 


■^   "      -   I'"    .'"^    ViiJ  ^v-*.-^  .    ^ 


CALIFORNIA     AND     ITER     RESOURCES.  17 

ern  and  western  sections.  The  chief  feature  of  this  range  is  Blount  Diablo,  3,896  feet 
above  sea-level,  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  county.  The  central  valley  is  the  Ignacio, 
10  to  12  miles  long,  and  about  G  miles  wide.  From  Suisun  Bay  southward  to  Livcrmore 
are  the  valleys  of  Alhanibra,  Pacheco,  Diablo,  San  Ramon,  Moraga,  Tice,  Green,  Syca- 
more, and  Tassajaro.  All  of  these  valleys  more  or  less  closely  environ  Mount  Diablo. 
The  western  portion  of  the  county  is  highly  broken  up,  and  is  more  elevated,  except 
where  to  the  northward  is  rolling  mesa  or  level  bottom  land  on  the  bay.  Eastern 
Contra  Costa  contains  about  60,000  acres  of  rich,  alluvial  lands,  and  to  the  northward 
and  eastward  about  50,000  acres  of  tule  land. 

Soils. — The  soil  in  the  western  part  is  stony,  but  produces  large  crops  of  succulent 
grasses,  which  constitute  it  a  good  stock  country,  especially  kept  green  by  the  moisture 
of  the  fogs.  The  central  valley  portion  consists  mainly  of  chocolate  loam  of  great 
depth,  with  sandstone  underlying  and  limestone  outcropping  in  higher  altitudes. 
Good  water  is  obtained  from  10  to  40  feet  depth.  The  eastern  portion  ranges  from 
sandy  loam  and  alluvial  to  adobe,  the  bedrock  being  sandstone. 

Climate.— The  climate  of  the  western  part  is  cool  and  bracing,  influenced  by  the 
ocean  breezes  and  fogs.  The  central  valleys  possess  a  delightful  average  between  the 
warm  San  .Joaquin  and  the  bracing  atmosphere  of  the  coast.  The  average  annual  rain- 
fall is  about  18  inches.  Its  mean  annual  temperature  is  from  52°  to  60°  from  the  western 
to  the  central  part,  and  from  60°  to  68°  in  the  eastern  portion.  The  summer  temperature 
around  Byron  and  Brentwood,  in  the  eastern  part,  is  much  higher  than  that  at  Martinez 
and  the  valley  adjacent. 

Irrigation. — No  irrigation  is  required  in  this  county,  unless  it  should  be  in  the 
extreme  eastern  portion. 

Agriculture. — Notwithstanding  the  growth  of  the  fruit  industry,  grain  raising  still 
leads  in  this  county.  Many  farmers  have  grown  rich  from  wheat  production.  The 
chief  product  of  the  eastern  section  is  wheat,  although  much  barley,  hay,  alfalfa,  and 
fruits  and  vines  are  grown.  Alfalfa  around  Byron  yields  7  to  10  tons  per  annum,  with- 
out irrigation,  and  is  worth  from  $9  to  .$12  per  ton  in  San  Francisco,  according  to  the 
season.    All  vegetables  grow  enormously,  especially  in  the  central  portion. 

Horticulture.— The  main  fruit  product  comes  from  the  central  portion,  in  the  valleys 
above  described.  The  wild-oat  hill  lands  with  southern  exposure  are  nowhere  equaled 
in  the  State  for  olive  culture.  Among  the  numerous  fruits  produced  are  the  pear,  plum, 
prune,  apricot,  cherry,  peach,  quince,  fig,  nectarine,  pomegranate,  olive;  of  small  fruits, 
strawberry,  raspberr}-^,  blackberry,  gooseberry,  and  currant;  of  nuts,  almond,  walnut, 
pecan,  filbert,  and  chestnut.  Over  6,000  acres  are  devoted  to  these  fruits,  and  fruit 
raising  has  proved  both  successful  and  remunerative.  Oranges  are  grown  successfully 
in  sheltered  localities.  Fruit  trees  in  bearing,  2,347;  not  bearing,  1,575.  There  are  also 
3,845  acres  in  wine  grapes.  Prunes  and  pears  are  the  leading  fruits,  and  next  to  them, 
almonds.    The  greater  part  of  the  fruit  product  is  shipped  green  to  San  P>ancisco. 

Stock  Raising.— Stock  raising  is  a  most  profitable  industry,  especially  fine  stock,  and 
considering  its  size,  no  county  in  the  State  can  show  better  grades  of  blooded  stock. 
There  is  one  stock  farm  of  6,000  acres,  which  has  a  large  number  of  draft  horses,  300 
trotters,  100  Aberdeen-Angus  cattle,  100  Devons,  and  60  short  horns— all  of  the  finest 
grades.  Many  business  men  of  San  Francisco  own  ranches  in  this  county,  and  take 
great  pride  in  their  development.  Western  Contra  Costa  is  especially  well  adapted  to 
Btock  raising  and  dairying,  owing  to  the  fogs  and  moisture,  and  the  resultant  luxuriant 
growth  of  natural  grasses  and  their  long  endurance,  early  to  spring  up  and  late  to  dis- 
appear. Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  8,787;  cattle,  14,973;  hogs,  3,262;  mules, 
182;  sheep,  graded,  20,047;  poultry,  3,197  dozen. 

Mining.— The  only  important  mining  industry  is  the  coal  mines  of  jMount  Diablo, 
although  some  little  mining  for  precious  metals  has  been  done. 

Manufacturing. — The  principal  industries  in  this  line  have  been  referred  to  above  in 
the  account  of  the  principal  towns— the  smelting  works  on  the  bay,  the  large  flour  mills, 
agricultural  works,  paper  mills,  powder  mills,  fruit  and  vegetable  canneries,  distilleries, 
wine  and  brandy  manufactories,  slaughter  and  packing  houses,  planing  mills,  etc. 

Pleasure  and  Health  Resorts.- Byron  Hot  Springs,  near  Byron,  three  hours  from 
San  Francisco  by  rail,  furnishes  hot  and  cold,  salt  and  sulphur,  and  mineral  and  mud 
baths,  from  its  natural  mineral  springs.    They  are  much  resorted  to  by  sufferers  from 


18  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

liver  and  kidney  disorders,  rheumatism,  and  chronic  dyspepsia.    The  hotel  and  bathing 
accommodations  are  first  class. 

A  trip  to  Mount  Diablo  will  amply  repay  the  tourist.  From  its  summit  can  be  en- 
joyed a  view  of  unsurpassed  beauty,  including  a  panorama  of  plains  and  hills,  land  and 
ocean,  of  an  area  scarcely  less  than  the  State  of  New  York. 

DEL  NORTE. 

Del  Norte  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  Oregon,  east  by  Siskiyou 
County,  south  by  Humboldt  County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean,  lying  in  the  north- 
western corner  of  the  State,  and  having  a  sea  coast  of  35  miles. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,546  square  luiles,  or  989,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
700,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  126,539  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$2,218,327.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.50.  JNiiles  of  railroad,  none.  Value  of 
county  property,  $19,000.  Total  county  debt,  $9,517  67.  Number  of  schools,  13.  School 
children  between  5  and  17  years,  517.  School  money,  $12,202  17.  Population,  census 
of  1890,  2,570.    The  present  population  as  claimed  is  about  4,000. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Crescent  City,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population 
of  about  1,500.  It  is  located  on  the  coast  about  15  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  Klamatli 
River,  and  possesses  a  fair  harbor.  It  is  commercially  a  dairy  and  lumber  center,  having 
a  saw  mill  employing  100  men,  and  a  shingle  mill  employing  50  men.  Here  are  located 
the  county  buildings,  two  newspapers,  school  buildings,  stores,  etc.  It  has  water  com- 
munication by  steam  and  freight  vessels  with  San  Francisco,  distant  280  miles,  and 
by  a  stage  line  90  miles  to  Grant's  Pass,  Oregon,  connecting  with  the  Oregon  Division 
of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  The  other  towns  are  Smith  River,  population  300, 
in  the  center  of  the  dairy  and  farming  districts;  Altaville,  and  Gasquet. 

Topography.— This  county  presents  a  succession  of  mountain  ranges,  broken  by  nar- 
row vallej's.  The  mountains  of  the  eastern  portion  are  from  5,000  to  6,000  feet  higli. 
Snow  remains  on  their  summits  until  late  in  the  summer.  The  Klamath  River,  a  lar^e 
stream  heading  at  Lake  Klamath  in  southern  Oregon,  140  miles  from  the  ocean,  flows 
through  Del  Norte  County  on  the  east,  dips  down  into  Humboldt  County,  and  returnint; 
into  Del  Norte  enters  the  ocean  about  12  miles  north  of  its  southern  boundary.  Smitli 
River,  with  its  numerous  branches,  is  a  considerable  stream  traversing  the  northern  part 
of  the  county.  The  redwood  timber  belt  extends  through  the  western  part  of  the  county 
from  north  to  south,  and  is  from  4  to  10  miles  in  width.  The  area  suitable  for  cultivation 
is  confined  to  Smith  River  Valley  and  a  small  belt  on  the  ocean  near  Crescent  City. 

Soils. — The  soil  in  these  narrow  valleys  is  extremely  fertile,  and  is  suited  to  all  varie- 
ties of  vegetables  and  cei'eals.  That  of  the  hills  and  mountains  is  also  good,  but  the 
expense  of  ridding  it  of  the  timber  forbids  its  use  for  cultivation. 

Climate.— Del  Norte,  lying  in  the  moist  belt  and  on  the  ocean,  has  an  invigoratint; 
and  healthful  climate.  The  average  annual  rainfall  is  between  60  and  70  inches.  It  rains 
some  in  every  month  of  the  year. 

Agriculture  and  Stock. — Dairying  is  the  principal  industry  (aside  from  the  lumber 
interests),  and  little  agriculture  is  carried  on  except  for  local  demands— hay,  barley, 
wheat,  and  vegetables.  The  annual  shipments  of  butter  are  600,000  pounds,  mostly  to 
the  San  Francisco  market.  The  product  is  of  the  finest  quality.  Assessor's  report  for 
1892  shows:  Horses,  624;  cattle,  4,543;  hogs,  792;  mules,  33;  sheep,  1,279. 

Horticulture.— Very  little  attention  is  paid  to  fruit  raising,  although  the  soil  is  favor- 
able. Apples  are  the  main  crop,  though  plums  and  pears  do  well.  Also,  peaches  to  some 
extent  are  raised.  The  acreage  in  trees  is,  bearing,  114;  not  bearing,  36;  total,  150;  of 
these,  125  acres  are  apples,  which  are  of  fine  keeping  quality  and  fine  flavor. 

Timber  .-There  are  190,000  acres  of  redwood,  besides  tamarack  forests  and  other  timber. 
The  annual  shipment  of  lumber  from  Crescent  City  is  14,000,000  feet,  and  2,000,000  shakes. 

Mining.- This  industry  is  carried  on  to  some  considerable  extent,  principally  along 
the  course  of  the  Klamath  River  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Gasquet,  18  miles  from  Crescent  City.  Here  are  opportunities  for  prospecting 
for  precious  metals  with  good  chances  of  success.  Transportation  facilities  and  ready 
communication  with  the  outside  world  are  mainly  what  is  needed  to  vastly  increase  the 
productions  of  this  county,  whether  in  lumbering,  dairying,  or  mining. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIER     RESOURCES.  19 

Manufactures.— Besides  the  lumber  mills  there  are  two  salmon  canneries,  one  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Klamath  River  and  the  other  near  the  mouth  of  Smith  River. 

Prospects.— Government  improvements  on  the  harbor  at  Crescent  City  will  greatly 
stimulate  the  development  of  the  inexhaustible  mineral,  and  timber,  and  agricultural 
resources  of  this  naturally  rich  country. 

EL  DORADO. 

El  Dorado  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Placer,  east  by  State  of  Nevada  and 
by  Alpine  County,  south  by  Alpine  and  Amador  Counties,  and  west  by  Sacramento 
County. 

Statistics. — Area,  1,890  square  miles,  or  1,150,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  350,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  464,224  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property, 
$3,860,855.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  2.00.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  30.55; 
assessed  at  $244,543.  County  property,  $30,000.  Total  county  debt,  $157,000.  Number  of 
schools,  57.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,982.  School  money,  $31,313  72. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  9,206. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Placerville,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of 
3,110.  Other  towns  are  Georgetown,  population  700;  Coloma,  Kelsey,  Greenwood,  Pilot 
Hill,  Grizzly  Flat,  Latrobe,  Shingle  Springs,  Smith  Flat,  Mud  Springs,  and  Diamond 
Springs.  « 

Topography. — It  is  about  70  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  35  miles  from  north  to  south. 
It  varies  in  altitude  from  a  level  with  the  Sacramento  plains  at  its  western  extremity, 
to  8,000  to  10,000  feet  on  its  eastern  boundary.  On  its  western  boundary  is  a  belt  of 
prairie  land  but  slightly  elevated  above  the  plains;  then  succeeds  the  undulating  hills 
and  narrow  valleys  of  the  foothills,  covered  with  white  oak,  live  oak,  chaparral,  man- 
zanita,  and  straggling  pines.  To  this  succeeds  the  mountain  regions,  thickly  covered 
-with  the  heaviest  timber.  Fully  two  thirds  the  area  of  the  county  is  embraced  by  the 
upper  foothill  region,  within  a  range  of  1,500  to  2,500  feet  altitude,  well  timbered  with 
black  oak,  live  oak,  spruce,  hemlock,  fir,  cedar,  and  many  species  of  pine.  Within  these 
limits  are  produced  abundantly  cereals,  vegetables,  potatoes,  Indian  com,  clover,  and  all 
the  deciduous  fruits  and  nuts.  The  main  streams  of  the  county  are  the  North,  Middle, 
and  South  Forks  of  the  American  River,  which  joins  the  Sacramento  River  at  Sacra- 
mento, and  their  tributary  streams,  affording  the  county  immense  water  resources. 

Soils. — The  soils  of  El  Dorado  vary  somewhat  with  altitude,  from  the  black  alluvium 
of  the  lower  plains  to  the  gravelly  red  soil  of  the  foothills.  Occasional  streaks  of  adobe 
are  found.  The  soils  are  unusually  rich  in  plant  foods,  as  shown  by  the  abundant  yield 
of  cereals,  fruit  trees,  and'vines. 

Irrigation. — No  county  of  the  State  is  better  provided  with  water.  There  are  three 
main  companies,  with  367  miles  of  ditch  and  flume,  assessed  at  about  $270,000.  Although 
these  were  originally  built  and  are  now  extensively  used  for  gold  mining  and  mills,  yet 
they  still  furnish  abundant  water  for  irrigation  at  reasonable  rates,  and  cover  all  the 
main  fruit  districts.  Owing  to  the  large  rainfall,  however,  and  retentive  character  of 
the  soil,  but  little  water  is  required  for  irrigation. 

Climate.— The  climate  varies  with  altitude.  In  the  western  portions  the  summers 
are  hot  like  the  other  foothills  of  this  section  of  the  State,  ranging  sometimes  from  95" 
to  110°.  The  air  is  dry  and  salubrious,  and  the  nights  invariably  cool.  The  winter 
temperatures  do  not  vary  materially  from  that  of  Amador  and  Placer  Counties.  In  the 
higher  mountainous  district  the  summers  are  spring-like  and  cool,  and  the  winters 
severe,  with  heavy  snowfalls  and  sharp  frosts.  Placerville  and  Georgetown  sometimes 
have  a  little  snow,  but  it  seldom  remains  twenty-four  hours.  The  annual  rainfall  of 
Placerville  is  about  43.19  inches,  and  of  Georgetown  58  inches. 

Agriculture. — Much  wheat,  barlej',  and  hay  are  raised  in  the  lower  plains  and  foot- 
hills, but  in  the  upper  foothills  mostly  hay,  grain,  clover,  vegetables,  and  corn  for  local 
consumption,  or  for  use  in  the  timber  and  mining  regions  higher  up. 

Horticulture.- El  Dorado  is  rapidly  advancing  in  fruit  culture.  Apples  are  an 
abundant  and  fine  product  around  Georgetown,  Greenwood,  Kelsey,  Placerville,  and 
the  higher  foothills,  and  many  tons  are  shipped  to  the  valleys.  Coloma  produced  in 
the  early  years  the  first  peaches  raised  in  the  State.    Peaches,  plums,  prunes,  pears, 


20  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

cherries,  figs,  grapes  of  all  varieties,  almonds,  and  walnuts  are  raised  in  the  fruit 
districts.  There  is  one  orchard  of  400  acres  at  Diamond  Springs.  The  total  acreage 
in  fruits  in  El  Dorado  County  is  2,525  acres,  of  which  2,023  are  bearing  and  502  not 
bearing.  Of  this  acreage  Coloraa  has  about  one  third,  Placerville  one  third,  Dia- 
mond Springs  and  vicinity  about  one  fourth,  and  the  balance  is  scattering.  About 
200  carloads  of  green  fruit,  of  10  tons  each,  were  shipped  from  this  county  in  1892, 
and  a  large  amount  was  canned  and  dried— amounting  to  from  15  to  20  per  cent  of  the 
yield.  The  olive  is  successfully  cultivated  in  the  county;  oranges  also  do  just  as  well  as 
in  Placer  or  Amador  Counties. 

Stock  and  Dairy  Interest.— Cattle  and  sheep  are  extensively  raised,  being  generally 
on  two  ranges— the  lower  for  winter  and  the  mountains  for  summer;  and  there  is  a  large 
output  of  fine  butter  annually,  which  finds  its  market  in  the  valleys  and  plains.  The 
mountains  furnish  the  most  excellent  summer  range,  with  abundant  grass  and  water. 
The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  3,158;  cattle,  10,337;  hogs,  1,356;  mules,  72; 
sheep,  4,835;  goats,  2,974. 

Timber.— The  sugar  pine  forests  of  the  mountains  are  immense  and  unsurpassed  in 
the  State.  Many  of  the  trees  are  10  to  15  feet  across  and  over  300  feet  high.  Yellow- 
pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar  aboiind.    There  are  a  dozen  large  saw  mills  in  the  county. 

Mining. — The  gold  mines,  both  quartz  and  gravel,  are  very  extensive.  The  first  dis- 
covery of  gold  was  made  in  this  county.  The  Mother  Lode  enters  this  county  from 
the  south  and  follows  a  course  at  30°  west  for  20  miles.  The  total  yield  of  gold  to  date 
is  about  $100,000,000.  Quartz  mills  now  running,  43,  with  485  stamps;  gravel  mills,  10, 
with  105  stamps.  About  860  men  are  employed,  with  daily  wages  of  $2,580.  Besides  gold, 
there  abound  silver,  copper,  iron,  marble,  slate,  and  lime.  Lime  has  been  burned  largely 
since  185.3.  There  is  considerable  marble  also,  which  takes  a  fine  polish.  The  slate  quar- 
ries on  the  South  Fork  of  the  American  Eiver,  3  miles  from  Placerville,  are  well  and 
widely  known. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.— The  numerous  beautiful  lakes  in  the  mountains 
afford  a  delightful  summer  resort  for  health,  rest,  and  recreation;  trout  and  game 
abound.  The  famous  Lake  Talioe,  6,247  feet  above  sea-level,  a  noted  pleasure  resort, 
with  fine  hotels,  steamers,  and  sail  and  row  boats,  lies  partly  in  this  county,  tliough 
regularly  reached  by  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  via  Truckee  or  the  Summit. 

Prices  of  Land.— Good  land  can  be  bought  at  from  $5  to  $20  per  acre,  according  to 
quality  and  location,  although  in  the  improved  fruit  sections  the  prices  are  higher.  For 
the  industrious  immigrant  with  limited  means  it  affords  one  of  the  most  inviting  fields 
to  be  found  in  this  State. 

FRESNO. 

Fresno  County  is  bounded  north  by  Merced  and  Mariposa,  east  by  Mono  and  Inyo, 
south  by  Tulare,  and  west  by  San  Benito  and  ]\Ionterey  Counties. 

Statistics. — Area,  8,093  square  miles,  or  5,600,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  2,057,896  acres. 
Total  assessed  value  of  property,  1892,  $43,434,257.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.23.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  194.06;  assessed  at  $2,515,247.  County  property,  $805,- 
500.  County  debt,  $95,000.  Number  of  schools,  129.  School  children  between  5  and  17 
years,  8,141.    School  money,  $193,974  98.     Population,  census  of  1890,  31,877. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— The  county  seat  is  Fresno  City;  population,  census 
of  1890,  10,890.  It  has  six  banks,  two  daily  and  several  weekly  newspapers,  three  street 
car  lines,  paved  streets,  excellent  water,  gas,  electric  light  and  telephone  systems,  fire 
department,  elegant  public  school  and  other  buildings,  churches,  first-class  hotels,  ele- 
gant opera  house,  and  all  the  improvements  of  a  modern  city.  The  High  School  build- 
ing cost  over  $50,000.  It  is  also  the  manufacturing,  shipping,  and  commercial  center  of 
the  county.  It  is  the  geographical  center  of  1,000,000  acres  of  arable  land.  The  popula- 
tion has  increased  350  per  cent  in  ten  years.  Over  4,900  carloads  of  freight  were  shipped 
from  this  city  in  1891.  It  has  five  railroad  lines  centering  there,  giving  communication 
with  San  Francisco  north,  Lps  Angeles  south,  east  to  the  timber  and  mining  sections  of 
the  county,  west  to  the  Coast  Range,  and  southeast  skirting  the  foothills  to  Sanger  and 
Porterville.  The  Monterey  and  Fresno  line  will  soon  be  started.  The  city  has  a  Board 
of  Trade  and  various  other  public  organizations,  enthusiastic  in  advancing  the  industrial 
interests  of  their  great  county.    Its  citizens  are  enterprising,  pushing,  business  men. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  21 

Selma,  15  miles  south  of  Fresno,  population  2,000,  is  the  center  of  a  large  fruit  dis- 
trict, has  fine  hotels  and  public  buildings,  banks,  Hour  and  planing  mills,  and  two 
newspapers. 

Sanger,  15  miles  southeast  of  Fresno,  population  1,600,  is  the  terminus  of  a  large 
flume,  with  a  capacity  for  bringing  lumber  from  the  mountains  of  350,000  feet  every 
eighteen  hours.  It  has  school  buildings  and  churches,  a  bank,  waterworks,  electric 
lights,  newspapers,  mills,  and  warehouses.  It  ships  about  1,000  cars  of  grain  and  1,300 
cars  of  lumber  a  year. 

Madera,  population  1,500,  is  the  terminus  of  a  65-mile  lumber  flume,  which  brings 
enormous  amounts  of  lumber  from  two  large  mills  in  the  mountains,  and  is  a  thriving 
place,  with  excellent  schools,  fine  churches,  and  substantial  business  buildings. 

Other  towns  are  Clifton,  Easton,  Fowler,  Reedley,  Oleander,  Kingsburg,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  valley;  and  on  the  west  side  Ingomar,  Volta,  Los  Bafios,  Dos  Palos,  Fire- 
baugh,  Mendota,  and  White's  Bridge. 

Topography. — Imagine  a  line  running  nearly  from  southwest  to  northeast  through 
the  center  of  the  county;  it  would  be  160  miles  long.  It  would  begin  at  the  summit  of 
the  Coast  Range,  elevation  4,000  feet;  running  thence  to  the  trough  of  the  valley,  eleva- 
tion 180  feet;  thence  to  Fresno  City,  elevation  295  feet,  from  which  city  there  is  a 
gradual  rise  to  a  point  22  miles  east,  wiiere  the  elevation  is  860  feet;  thence  6  or  7  miles 
farther,  to  the  Toll  House,  elevation  2,150  feet;  thence  to  Stevenson's  Creek,  6,000  feet 
altitude;  thence  the  line  crosses  precipitous  peaks  and  ridges,  alternately,  to  an  eleva- 
tion of  11,000  feet,  and  then  descends  to  the  bed  of  the  South  Fork  of  the  San  Joaquin 
River,  which  is  8,000  feet  altitude.  From  here  the  line  is  crossed  by  deep  canons  until  the 
eastern  line  of  the  county  is  met,  at  an  altitude  of  14,000  feet.  From  the  south  bound- 
ary of  the  county,  in  the  center  of  the  valley,  elevation  200  feet,  the  valley  falls  on  a 
gentle  grade  of  about  one  foot  in  the  mile  to  the  northern  boundary,  altitude  145  feet. 
The  San  Joaquin  River,  rising  in  the  mountains  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county, 
flows  southwesterly  to  the  center  of  the  valley,  then  follows  the  center  of  the  valley 
northwesterly  through  the  county.  Kings  River,  coming  from  the  mountains  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  county,  on  a  course  parallel  with  the  San  Joaquin,  follows  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  county,  and  finds  its  way  to  the  low  lands  north  of  Tulare 
Lake,  in  Tulare  County.  In  the  entire  central  basin  there  are  over  3,000,000  acres. 
From  3,500  feet  to  6,500  feet  elevation  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  is  found  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  belts  of  sugar  pine,  yellow  pine,  spruce,  fir,  cedar,  and  gigantic  sequoias,  or 
big  trees,  in  the  State. 

Soils. — The  soils  of  the  basin  are  of  about  six  kinds,  running  in  belts,  parallel  with 
the  mountains.  Near  the  foothills  on  the  east  a  strip  of  black  soil;  from  thence  half 
way  to  the  trough  of  the  valley,  red  or  chocolate  loam;  thence  to  the  trough,  gray  ash 
soil;  bordering  on  the  marsh  lands  in  the  southern  part  is  some  alkali.  Thence  west  of 
the  San  Joaquin  River  and  trough,  first  a  narrow  strip  of  black  adobe;  thence  clayey 
sedimentary  to  midway  between  river  and  foothills;  thence  sandy  wash  soil  to  base  of 
Coast  Range.    All  these  soils  are  first  class. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  the  valley  is  dry  and  healthful,  very  warm  by  day,  with  cool 
nights  in  summer  and  delightful  the  balance  of  the  year.  At  Fresno  City  the  mean 
yearly  temperature  is  66.9°;  highest  temperature,  112°;  lowest,  29°;  mean  summer,  79°; 
mean  winter,  57J^°.  The  temperature  gradually  lowers  as  you  ascend  (eastward)  the 
foothills  and  mountains.    Average  annual  rainfall,  8.79  inches. 

Irrigation. — There  are  18  main  irrigating  canals,  with  their  numerous  laterals,  cover- 
ing about  500,000  acres  of  tillable  land.  The  West  Side  system  takes  water  from  the 
San  Joaquin.  The  value  of  land  without  water  rights  ranges  from  ip5  to  $10  per  acre;  of 
irrigated  lands,  from  $40  to  $100  per  acre.  Tlie  annual  cost  of  abundant  water  for  irriga- 
tion is  from  62^  cents  to  $1  per  acre.  The  production  before  irrigation,  10  cents  an 
acre;  since  irrigation,  $50  to  $300  an  acre.  Twenty  years  ago  you  had  to  dig  70  feet  deep 
for  well  water;  now  in  the  irrigated  districts  you  strike  it  at  about  10  feet.  This  subter- 
ranean water  level  is  not  stagnant,  but  flows  off  continually,  owing  to  perfect  drainage 
of  the  soil.  Lands  on  the  West  Side  under  the  ditch  canal  are  worth  on  an  average 
about  $(>0  per  acre  for  colony  purposes.  Artesian  water  is  struck  in  some  places  on 
the  West  Side,  but  none  is  generally  found  at  a  surface  altitude  above  275  feet  above  sea- 
level.    There  are  about  4,000  miles  of  canals  and  ditches,  both  main  and  laterals. 


22  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Agriculture. — Fresno  is  great  in  agriciiltural  products.  Her  grain  crop  of  1891  was 
175,000  tons,  valued  at  .$3,200,000.  Her  estimated  exports  of  wheat,  barley,  corn,  oats,  hay, 
flour,  mill  stuffs,  and  vegetables  amounted  to  nearly  217,000,000  pounds.  Her  hay  crops 
are  immense,  and  her  extensive  alfalfa  fields  yield  five  crops  a  year.  She  will  naturally, 
for  many  years,  be  a  large  producer  of  cereals,  vegetables,  and  stock  feed. 

Horticulture.— Fruit  culture  is  the  leading  industry  of  the  people.  Raisin  growing 
receives  by  far  the  greatest  amount  of  attention,  followed  sharply,  however,  by  the  pro- 
duction of  all  deciduous  and  citrus  fruits,  in  about  the  following  order:  peaches,  prunes, 
apricots,  pears,  figs,  nectarines,  olives,  apples,  and  plums,  then  almonds,  walnuts, 
oranges,  and  lemons.  The  bearing  acreage  in  raisin  grapes  is  35,900;  the  non-bearing, 
8,000  acres.    Acreage  in  fruit  trees:  bearing,  3,274;  non-bearing,  2,725. 

The  principal  fruit  and  raisin  districts  are  Fresno  and  environs,  Selma,  Fowler,  and 
Madera.  Several  of  the  largest  vineyards  and  wineries  of  the  State  have  become  estab- 
lished here.  The  yearly  output  of  wine  and  brandy  has  averaged  for  several  years  nearly 
3,000,000  gallons.  Wine  grapes  in  this  section  show  the  phenomenal  product  of  10  to  14 
tons  in  some  of  the  best  vineyards.  But  the  plantings  have  turned  more  to  the  Muscat 
grapes  for  raisins,  for  the  growth  of  which,  in  abundant  quantities  and  of  fine  quality,  these- 
alluvial  soils  are  eminently  adapted.  The  climate  also  being  so  warm  and  dry,  day  and 
night,  for  so  long  and  safe  a  period  after  harvest,  provides  the  best  conditions  for  curing. 
After  overcoming  many  obstacles,  the  raisin  industry  has  grown  from  an  output  of  4,000 
twenty-pound  boxes  in  1880,  to  over  1,000,000  boxes  in  1891.  At  the  present  rate  of 
increased  planting,  in  four  or  five  years  the  output  should  be  between  3,000,000  and 
4,000,000  boxes.  Besides  the  raisin  crop,  a  large  deciduous  fruit  product  is  shipped  from 
Fresno  yearly,  either  green  for  the  Eastern  and  San  Francisco  markets,  canned,  or 
dried. 

Citrus  fruits  are  raised  very  successfully  and  of  the  finest  quality.  There  are  over 
50,000  orange  trees  in  the  county,  the  best  districts  thus  far  experimented  on  being  found 
from  Fresno  south  toward  Sanger  and  beyond  on  the  railroad  line  to  Porterville.  Large 
orchards  will  no  doubt  be  planted  in  the  thermal  belt  in  the  next  few  years. 

Fig  culture  is  extensively  engaged  in,  especially  the  White  Adriatic  fig,  which  is  the 
best  drying  white  fig  yet  found  to  compete  with  the  foreign  Smyrna.  Large  shipments 
have  been  made  with  the  most  satisfactory  results. 

The  segregated  fruit  shipments  from  different  sections  are  hard  to  obtain  at  an  early 
date  after  the  close  of  the  year,  but  the  shipments  of  fruit  products  from  Fresno  County 
for  1890  were  44,740,428  pounds.  In  1891,  1,200  carloads  of  raisins  were  shipped.  More 
than  one  half  the  raisins  of  California  are  produced  in  this  county.  The  statistics  for 
1892  are  not  obtainable. 

Stock,  etc. — There  are  over  100,000  cattle  and  500,000  sheep  in  Fresno  County,  and  it 
is  a  favorite  section  for  the  production  of  fine  horses.  As  the  natural  ranges  on  rivers 
and  moist  lands  in  winter,  and  in  the  mountains  in  summer,  become  limited,  the  lack  of 
feed  is  gradually  being  supplied  by  the  growth  of  large  areas  of  alfalfa,  which  makes 
stock  growing  more  profitable  than  the  old  method.  A  well  established  alfalfa  field  is 
estimated  to  be  worth  from  $100  to  $150  an  acre  for  stock-raising  purposes.  The  ship- 
ments of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  and  sheep,  hides  and  wool,  for  1890,  amounted  to  over 
31,000,000  pounds.  The  wool  shipments  amounted  to  5,582,035  pounds.  The  Assessor's- 
report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  22,315;  mules,  3,513;  cattle,  52,295;  bogs,  11,082;  sheep, 
386,941;  poultry,  6,190  dozen. 

Timber.— In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  from  north  to  south,  and  included 
between  the  elevations  of  3,500  feet  to  6,500  feet  above  sea-level,  is  to  be  found  one  of  the 
finest  bodies  of  timber  in  the  State.  Vast  forests  of  sugar  pine  are  here,  also  yellow 
pine,  fir,  spruce,  hemlock,  and  cedar.  Here,  also,  are  portions  of  three  national  parks, 
containing  scattered  Big  Trees,  or  Sequoia  gigantea,  some  of  them  25  to  45  feet  in  diam- 
eter, and  ?^0,  400,  and  even  500  feet  high.  The  Fresno  Grove  probably  has  one  hundred  or 
more  of  these  giants.  The  southern  part  of  Yosemite  Park  and  the  Sequoia  National 
Park  contain  many  more.  Lumber  is  cut  in  the  mountains  and  brought  by  immense  V 
flumes  from  40  to  60  miles,  to  both  Sanger  and  jNIadera,  the  latter  flume  being  the  longest 
in  the  world.  There  are  about  fifteen  mills,  seven  showing  a  product  of  32,700,000  feet, 
for  1891.  The  Sanger  flume  has  a  carrying  capacity  of  350,000  feet  a  day.  The  esti- 
mated value  of  the  Fresno  County  timber,  at  $10  per  thousand,  is  $80,000,000. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     TIER     RESOURCES.  23 

Milling. — The  mineral  resources  of  Fresno  County  include  gold,  silver,  copper  and 
iron,  bismuth  and  antimony,  magnesite,  gypsum  and  limestone,  bituminous  and  lignite 
coal,  petroleum,  etc.  Mining  is  extensively  carried  on  in  the  mountains  and  higher 
foothills,  principally  for  gold.  The  Mother  Lode  is  traced  also  through  Tuolumne  and 
Mariposa  into  this  county.  Some  of  the  gold  mines  are  being  worked,  and  many  others 
are  now  idle.  Iron  deposits  in  large  quantities  are  found  in  the  Minaret  and  Blount 
Raymond  districts  of  almost  inexhaustible  quantity,  and  64  to  GG  per  cent  pure  quality, 
magnetic  and  specular  hematite.  Thousands  of  tons  could  be  mined  at  a  nominal  rate. 
Copper  deposits  are  also  abundant.  Gypsum  is  found  in  abiandance  in  the  Coast  Range, 
near  the  Huron  and  Alcalde  branch.  Lignite  and  bituminous  coal  is  found  in  the 
vicinity  of  and  northwest  from  Coalinga,  in  the  Coast  Range;  there  is  very  little 
development  of  the  deposit.  Petroleum  is  found  in  the  Oil  Cafion,  8  miles  north  of 
Coalinga;  many  locations  are  made,  but  no  deep  borings.  Natural  gas  tlows  in  many 
sections.  There  are  several  granite  quarries,  of  fine  quality  of  stone,  being  worked  in 
the  vicinity  of  Raymond.  Chromite,  antimony,  and  limestone  are  also  found,  the  latter 
in  three  townships  40  miles  northeast  of  Fresno  City.  There  is  freestone  of  dark  slate 
color  near  Huron. 

Manufactures. — The  manufactures  of  Fresno  County  embrace  manufactured  lumber, 
flour,  mill  stuffs,  canned  fruits,  raisins,  wine  and  brandy,  doors,  sashes,  and  blinds,  fruit 
boxes,  agricultural  implements,  and  machinery. 

Exports.— The  total  exports  of  Fresno  County  in  1892,  of  raisins,  fruits,  cereals,  stock, 
wool,  lumber,  and  other  products,  reached  nearly  $10,000,000  in  value. 

Colonies.— The  colony  system,  prevalent  in  this  county,  necessitating  the  cutting  into 
small  tracts,  bringing  under  irrigation  and  improving  the  before  undivided  lands,  has 
greatly  stimulated  the  immense  fruit  production  of  Fresno,  and  been  mainly  instru- 
mental in  the  great  increase  in  the  number  of  farms  from  926  in  1880,  to  2,352  in  1890. 
The  district  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  is  yearly  attracting  more  attention,  and  the 
successful  and  prosperous  colonies  inaugurated  near  Dos  Palos,  Los  Bailos,  and  in  other 
west  side  localities,  under  the  splendid  irrigating  system  of  the  West  Side  Canal,  show 
what  splendid  results  are  to  be  expected  in  the  way  of  fruit  raising  in  this  fertile  section. 

GLENN. 

Glenn  County  is  bounded  north  by  Tehama,  east  by  Butte,  south  by  Colusa,  and  west 
by  Mendocino  Counties.  Its  recent  segregation  from  Colusa  County  necessitates  an 
estimate  of  some  of  the  statistics. 

Statistics.— Area,  about  1,200  square  miles,  or  768,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  603,908 
acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  .$12,025,442.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and 
county,  1.35.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  45.70;  assessed  at  $365,814.  Value  of  county 
property,  $2,600.  County  debt  (floating),  $17,591  65.  Number  of  schools,  44.  School 
children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,459.  School  money,  $28,232  19.  Population  of  old 
Colusa,  under  census  of  1890,  was  14,640;  Glenn  County,  segregated  since  then,  is  esti- 
mated at  6,264. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — The  county  seat  is  Willows;  population,  1,176. 
It  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the  S.  P.  and  W.&  M.  railroads,  the  latter  being  a  branch 
running  to  Fruto,  and  about  10  miles  west  of  the  Sacramento  River.  It  is  lighted  by 
electricity,  has  waterworks,  a  bank  of  $300,000  capital,  fine  school  buildings,  churches, 
and  business  blocks,  and  is  the  commercial  center  of  a  splendid  section  of  agricultural 
land  within  40  miles  radius  around  it. 

The  other  towns  of  the  county  are  Orland,  population  450;  Butte  City,  population  350; 
Germantown,  Newville,  Elk  Creek,  Princeton,  and  Jacinto.  At  the  terminus  of  the 
W.  &  M.  Railroad  is  located  the  colony  of  Fruto,  devoted  to  the  horticultural  develop- 
ment of  that  section. 

Topography.— The  topography,  soil,  and  climate  of  Glenn  County  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  Colusa  County,  heretofore  described  in  detail.  The  eastern  portion  consists  of 
level  plains  and  valley  lands,  which  are  changed  into  rolling  hills  in  the  western  portion, 
becoming  more  elevated  and  precipitous  as  you  proceed  westward,  until  they  terminate 
in  the  mountains  of  the  broken  Coast  Range.  It  is,  however,  in  its  great  extent,  a  Sac- 
ramento Valley  county.    Stony  Creek,  a  considerable  stream  rising  in  the  Coast  Range, 


24  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

runs  easterly,  dips  north  into  Tehama  County,  then  easterly  again  through  northern 
Glenn  County  to  the  Sacramento  River. 

Irrigation.— Water  for  irrigation  is  taken  from  Stony  Creek  for  the  districts  tribu- 
tary to  Orland,  but  the  main  supply  for  this  purpose,  for  Glenn  as  well  as  Colusa  County, 
comes  from  the  great  canal  which  starts  from  the  Sacramento  River  about  10  miles  north 
of  Willows  and  extends  south  for  40  miles,  a  fuller  description  of  which  has  been  given 
under  the  caption  of  "Colusa  County." 

Soils.— The  soils  do  not  vary  materially  from  those  of  Colusa  County,  to  which  refer- 
ence is  made  for  a  description  of  the  particulars.  Its  great  fertility,  which  it  shares  with 
Colusa  County,  and  which  lielped  to  make  the  great  grain-growing  record  of  the  old 
county  as  the  largest  producing  wheat  county  in  the  world,  will  one  day,  not  very  far 
distant,  give  astounding  results  in  its  cereal  and  fruit  output. 

Agriculture.- The  county  is,  of  course,  mainly  devoted  to  the  growth  of  wheat,  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  various  sections  of  the  county,  of  which  the  before  enumerated 
towns  are  the  agricultural  and  commercial  centers,  owing  their  business  existence  solely 
to  this  branch  of  agriculture. 

Horticulture.— In  many  portions  of  these  districts  orchards  and  vineyards  have  been 
planted  and  colonies  started  to  engage  in  fruit  culture,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
Fruto.  as  the  terminus  of  the  W.  &  M.  Railroad.  About  300  acres  have  been  set  out 
to  fruit  the  past  three  years,  and  the  growth  of  these  trees  and  vines  has  been  remark- 
able. Enough  has  been  shown  to  prove  the  adaptability  of  this  county  to  a  large  and 
profitable  production  of  all  varieties  of  fruits.  The  principal  products  now  are  peaches, 
apricots,  and  prunes;  apples,  pears,  walnuts,  almonds,  and  oranges  also  flourish,  accord- 
ing to  proper  selection  of  soil  and  site.  There  are  2,408-acres  planted  to  fruit,  of  which 
1,552  are  bearing,  and  856  not  yet  bearing. 

Stock. — There  are  wide  areas  in  the  foothills  preeminently  adapted  to  stock  raising, 
where  large  bands  of  cattle,  horses,  and  sheep  graze  the  entire  year.  Before  the  plow 
touched  these  tracts,  wild  oats  were  found  as  high  as  a  horse's  back,  native  clover  grew 
thick  and  tangled,  and  the  hills  were  covered  with  nutritious  bunch  grass.  Much  fine 
stock  is  raised  in  this  county,  and  there  is  a  large  output  of  dairy  products.  The 
Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  4,527;  mules,  3,134;  cattle,  5,262;  hogs,  10,000; 
sheep,  38,182;  goats,  221;  poultry,  1,462  dozen. 

Lands.— Most  of  the  lands  of  Glenn  County  are  held  in  large  tracts,  devoted  to  grain 
raising,  and  the  non-division  of  these  tracts  has  of  course  retarded  the  settlement  of 
the  county  with  a  numerous  population.  Lands  can  be  bought  at  reasonable  prices  in 
any  of  the  districts,  ranging  from  $10  to  $50  an  acre,  according  to  situation  and  quality. 

Climate.— The  climate  is  precisely  similar  to  that  of  Colusa  County.  At  Willows, 
for  1890  the  average  annual  temperature  was  59.4°;  the  highest  summer,  108°;  the  lowest 
winter  (or  rainy  season),  28°.    The  rainfall  per  year,  15.81  inches. 

Timber.— There  are  a  number  of  saw  mills  in  the  mountains,  but  their  product  is 
mainly  for  the  supply  of  the  home  demand. 

HUMBOLDT. 

Humboldt  County  is  bounded  north  by  Del  Norte  and  Siskiyou,  on  the  east  by  Siski- 
you and  Trinity,  on  tlie  south  by  Mendocino  County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Its 
coast-line  is  about  175  miles. 

Statistics.— Area,  3,590  square  miles,  or  2,297,600  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,293,685.41 
acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  1892,  $18,014,237.  Rate  of  taxation.  State 
and  county,  1.10.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  only  used  for  logging  camps  and  lum- 
ber to  the  bay,  63  miles.  County  property,  $27.5,000.  County  debt,  $74,000.  Number  of 
schools,  131.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  5,999.  Public  school  money,  $123,- 
383  19.     I'opulation,  census  of  1890,  15,510. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— The  county  seat  is  Eureka,  situated  on  Hum- 
boldt Hay,  216  miles  from  San  Francisco,  population  4,8.34,  census  of  1890;  but  since  then 
the  city  limits  have  been  extended,  and  a  careful  estimate  gives  the  present  population 
as  7,700.  It  has  three  banks,  four  newspapers,  nine  churches,  splendid  school  buildings, 
opera  house,  six  saw  mills,  and  numerous  factories  and  shipyards.  It  has  a  good  sewer 
Bystem,  water,  gas,  and  electric  light  plants,  two  miles  of  street  car  line,  and  fine  public 


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CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEU     RESOURCES.  25 

and  business  buildings.  Its  Court-liouse  grounds,  buildings,  and  furniture  are  valued  at 
about  !i!225,000,  and  its  Infirmary  at  $40,000.  Eureka  is  the  entrepot  and  shipping  point 
for  the  county,  and  handles  an  immense  amount  of  lumber,  lish,  dairy  jjroducts,  vege- 
tables, fruit,  and  supplies  yearly.  Two  lines  of  steamers  give  semi-weekly  connection 
with  San  Francisco,  and  over  125  vessels  are  engaged  in  trade  on  Humboldt  Hay, 
carrying  over  700  cargoes  a  year.  The  appropriation  by  Congress  of  $1,7.')0,(XX),  for  tlio 
completion  of  the  improvements  on  Humboldt  Bay,  has  awakened  intense  interest  in 
the  county,  and  all  industries  have  felt  the  beneficial  stimulus  toward  further  develoi>- 
ment  of  the  great  resources  of  this  section. 

Areata  is  the  second  town  in  importance,  population  2,000,  with  four  churches,  schools, 
water  and  gas  works.  The  other  towns  are  Fortuna,  Alton,  Ferndale,  Rohnerville,  Port 
Kenyon,  liookton,  Trinidad,  Ilydesville,  Table  IJlui'f,  Petrolia,  Springville,  Blocksburg, 
and  Garberville,  all  thriving  towns  with  attractive  points. 

Topography.— The  topography  of  this  county  exhibits  the  most  varied  character. 
The  Coast  Range  of  mountains,  which  is  here  very  much  broken  up  and  dispersed,  is  tlie 
source  of  a  large  water  supply,  affording  Eel  River,  with  seven  or  eight  tributaries  on  the 
south.  Trinity  River,  with  four  or  live  tributaries  in  the  middle,  and  the  Klamath  River 
on  the  north.  The  latter  is  next  to  the  largest  river  in  the  State,  being  over  250  miles,  and 
including  its  main  tributaries  1,000  miles  long,  a  mile  wide  at  its  mouth  in  Del  Norte 
County,  where  it  empties  into  the  ocean  just  north  of  the  Humboldt  County  line,  and 
drains  five  counties  in  California  and  two  in  Oregon.  There  are  also  numerous  short 
streams  along  the  coast,  emptying  directly  into  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  land  surface  is 
extremely  rugged,  innumerable  spurs  of  the  Coast  Range  intersecting  the  county  in  all 
directions.  There  are  a  great  number  of  well  watered  small  valleys  in  the  interior,  but 
the  chief  level  land  lies  around  Humboldt  Bay.  The  mountains  are  densely  covered 
with  immense  growths  of  redwood  timber  of  colossal  size.  The  subdivisions  of  area  are, 
approximately:  timber  land,  938,000  acres;  agricultural,  450,000  acres;  grazing,  500,000; 
marsh,  31,285;  mineral  lands,  125,000,  and  unclassified,  235,315  acres. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  the  valleys,  and  extending  well  up  into  the  hills,  is  very  fertile.  On 
the  bottom  lands  and  next  the  coast  it  is  black,  that  on  the  bottoms  being  of  a  sedimen- 
tary character,  while  that  of  the  hills  is  more  of  a  sandy  loam.  The  soil  of  the  interior 
hills  is  composed  of  disintegrated  rock,  mixed  with  organic  matter  from  decayed  vege- 
tation. The  best  soils  for  agricultural  and  horticultural  purposes  are  found  chiefly  in 
the  Eel  River  valleys,  the  Klamath  River  country,  and  around  the  bay. 

Climate.— On  the  coast  the  temperature  is  uniformly  cool  and  pleasant,  ranging  from 
60°  in  summer  to  48°  in  winter.  In  the  interior  the  range  from  winter  to  summer  is 
much  greater,  running  up  sometimes  to  100°.  The  freezing  point  is  seldom  reached  in 
winter  in  the  interior  valleys.  It  never  snows  except  in  the  highest  valleys  and  at  the 
heads  of  streams,  but  snow  falls  on  the  mountains  back  of  the  timber  belt,  sometimes  to 
a  depth  of  several  feet.  Almost  any  variety  of  climate  can  be  found  in  the  county.  The 
average  annual  rainfall  is  about  40  inches. 

Irrigation. — As  a  natural  result  of  the  great  annual  rainfall,  artificial  irrigation  is 
not  required. 

Agriculture.- Although  making  no  pretensions  to  being  a  grain  county,  Humboldt 
raises  abundant  crops  of  oats,  barley,  hay,  potatoes,  peas,  beans,  and  other  agricultural 
products.  She  exported  .|45,000  worth  of  potatoes  in  1890,  and  has  long  been  noted  for 
her  output  of  this  crop.  Of  oats  she  exports  about  $50,000  a  year,  and  her  large  ship- 
ments of  dairy  products  show  an  immense  yield  of  hay  and  clover  to  produce  such 
results.  One  of  the  best  farming  sections  is  the  Hoopa  Valley,  which  is  now  a  (Jovern- 
ment  reservation  for  the  Indians. 

Dairying  is  a  most  important  industry  in  this  county,  the  annual  exports  of  dairy 
products  being  over  $350,000  in  value,  in  butter  amounting  to  over  2,000,000  pounds. 
There  are  eight  large  creameries  and  many  cheese  factories  in  the  dairying  districts. 
The  introduction  of  red  clover  greatly  stimulated  this  industry. 

Stock.— The  raising  of  stock  has  always  been  an  important  business,  and  has  proved 
very  successful  and  remunerative,  both  in  cattle,  horses,  and  sheep.  The  exports  of  1H90 
show  wool  to  the  value  of  .$300,000;  hides  and  leather,  $50,000.  The  annual  wool  clip  is 
over  900,000  pounds,  from  over  150,000  sheep.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1S02  sliows: 
Horses,  6,728;  cattle,  40,165;  mules,  716;  hogs,  5,089;  sheep,  97,533;  poultry,  1,809  dozen. 


26  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Horticulture  .—Much  attention  is  being  given  to  fruit  raising,  though  the  lack  of 
transportation  facilities  has  made  it  difficult  to  reach  outside  markets  with  any  fruits 
except  apples,  which  are  here  produced  of  the  very  finest  varieties  and  excellent  quality; 
her  shipments  of  these  reaching  annually  a  value  of  over  $30,000.  There  are  many  sec- 
tions, however,  well  adapted  to  fruit  raising,  the  principal  districts  where  plantings  are 
found  being  Ferndale,  Rohnerville,  Camp  Grant,  McDarmidt,  Blocksburg,  Upper  Mattole, 
Areata,  Bottom,  Eel  River  Valley,  Garberville,  and  Phillipsville.  Fruit  shipped  from 
Humboldt  in  1891  was:  apples,  740,000  pounds;  peaches,  60,000;  prunes,  10,000;  cherries, 
16,000;  pears,  10,000;  plums,  2,500;  total,  838,500  pounds.  These  shipments  furnish  a  fair 
estimate  of  the  relative  importance  of  the  varieties.  Grapes  of  all  kinds  do  exceedingly 
well;  also,  the  small  fruits,  strawberries,  raspberries,  and  blackberries.  The  fruit  acreage, 
so  far  as  can  be  arrived  at,  is  1,372,  of  which  1,044  acres  are  bearing  and  328  not  bearing. 
Doubtless  further  experiments  will  prove  the  adaptability  of  the  soils  to  many  other 
varieties,  when  a  foreign  market  is  more  easily  reached,  and  the  county  has  the  stimu- 
lating connection  by  railroad  with  the  outside  world. 

Timber.— The  leading  industry  of  the  county  is  the  manufacture  of  redwood  lumber, 
shingles,  shakes,  and  other  timber  products;  the  annual  exports  in  this  line  reaching 
over  $3,500,000,  represented,  in  1890,  by  lumber,  126,957,510  feet;  shingles,  261,821,650; 
shakes,  17,057,919;  doors  and  windows,  31,600;  moldings,  2,700,000  feet.  In  1892  the  prod- 
uct was,  lumber,  158,250,660feet;  shingles,  177,550,320.  This  industry  is  based  on- a  timber 
belt  of  gigantic  redwood  trees,  extending  throughout  the  mountains  of  the  county  from 
north  to  south,  and  averaging  12  to  13  miles  wide,  embracing  over  700,000  acres.  There 
is  also  over  200,000  acres  of  pine,  spruce,  and  cedar,  and  200,000  acres  of  white  oak, 
madrona,  and  other  woods.  There  are  twenty-nine  immense  mills  in  operation,  and 
upwards  of  3,000  men  are  employed  in  the  logging  season,  at  wages  from  $30  to  $200  per 
month.  The  great  development  of  this  lumber  interest  explains  the  prosperity  of  this 
county,  in  spite  of  its  lack  of  railroads. 

Ship-building  is  a  prominent  industry,  giving  employment  to  300  men.  There  are 
several  shipyards,  a  marine  railway,  and  all  the  appliances  of  this  science.  In  the  last 
ten  years  2  steamers,  6  barkentines,  and  33  schooners  have  been  built,  and  during  the 
past  year  3  schooners,  2  barkentines,  and  1  steamer. 

Fishing. — The  steady  development  of  salmon  fishing  in  Eel  River  engages  many 
men,  and  distributes  annually  about  $75,000. 

Manufactures. — The  manufactories  are  principally  lumber,  shingle,  and  planing 
mills,  sash  and  door  factories,  tanneries,  canneries,  cheese  factories,  creameries,  and 
others  for  the  various  products  dependent  upon  these  principal  ones  locally  in  so  indus- 
trious and  prosperous  a  community. 

Minerals. — The  golden  sands  of  the  coast  are  worked  in  a  small  way,  about  $75,000 
being  reported  annually.  On  the  Klamath  and  Trinity  Rivers  are  large  deposits  of 
gold-bearing  gravel  awaiting  development.  Coal  has  been  located  in  sixteen  localities. 
In  the  Mattole  section  some  petroleum  developments  have  been  made.  Two  companies 
are  putting  down  wells  with  splendid  indications,  one  of  them  being  2,500  feet.  Copper 
and  other  minerals  are  also  found.  Though  this  has  not  hitherto  been  much  of  a  mining 
county,  there  is  no  predicting  what  results  future  developments  may  show. 

Prices  of  Land.— Good  agricultural  lands  in  this  county  range  from  $10  an  acre  for 
unimproved,  to  $100  for  highly  improved  tracts— also,  according  to  location.  The  man 
of  limited  means  can  do  well  here  in  building  a  home. 

ESTYO. 

Inyo  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mono,  south  by  San  Bernardino,  west  by 
Fresno  and  Tuolumne  Counties,  and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada.  It  is  120  miles  long 
and  60  miles  wide,  and  the  third  largest  county  in  the  State. 

Statistics.- Area,  10,156  square  miles,  or  5,196,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
4,500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  153,161  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property, 
$1,543,532.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  2.00.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  74.25; 
assessed  at  $158,683.  County  property,  $15,000.  County  debt,  $70,860  43.  Number  of 
schools,  14.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  682.  School  money,  $12,357  40. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  3,544. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  27 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Its  county  seat  is  Independence,  which  has  two 
newspapers,  churches,  school  buildings,  and  numy  liandsome  buildings.  Bishop  Creek 
is  ceritrally  located  in  a  well-watered  and  fertile  valley  of  about  150  square  miles.  The 
Carson  and  Colorado  Railroad  runs  from  Carson  City,  Nevada,  south  through  Mono  and 
Inyo  Counties,  through  Independence  and  Bishop  Creek  to  Keeler,  near  the  northern 
border  of  Owens  Lake. 

Topography. — Inyo  is  the  most  mountainous  county  in  the  State.  It  lies  east  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  range,  which  here  attains  its  highest  elevation  and  the  valleys  their 
greatest  depression.  It  is  a  county  of  nigged,  snow-capped  peaks,  of  great  height, 
among  which  may  be  named  Blount  Whitney,  15,000  feet;  Mount  King,  14,000;  Mount 
Tyndall,  14,386;  Mount  AVilliamson,  14,500;  Mount  Inyo,  15,000,  and  ISIount  Abbott,  12,400. 
The  eastern  slope  of  these  mountains  is  so  precipitous  as  to  shut  out  all  direct  commu- 
nication with  the  western  part  of  the  State  to  which  this  county  belongs.  Death  Valley 
lies  about  60  miles  east  of  Owens  Lake,  which  is  about  40  miles  long  by  8  to  10  miles 
broad,  and  shows  a  depression  below  sea-level  of  400  feet,  as  reported  by  the  boundary 
expedition  of  1861.  The  Inyo  range  runs  north  and  south,  and  the  Panamint  range 
parallel  therewith  and  still  higher,  lying  to  the  east.  The  only  available  body  of  agri- 
cultural land  is  Owens  Valley,  which  is  about  95  miles  in  length,  with  a  belt  of  arable 
land  of  from  2  to  8  miles  in  width.  Through  this  valley  runs  the  Owens  Iliver,  rising 
in  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  running  south  150  miles  into  Owens  Lake.  It  carries  a  volume 
of  water  50  feet  wide,  with  an  average  depth  of  6  feet,  and  a  velocity  of  5  miles  an  hour. 

Irrigation. — The  irrigation  ditch,  now  only  partially  complete,  will  cover  about  50,000 
acres  of  agricultural  land.  "Water  also  comes  in  good  supply  by  creeks  from  the  Sierra 
Nevada  on  the  west.    There  are  64  miles  of  irrigating  ditches  complete,  valued  at  $8,100. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  this  valley  is  quite  fertile  and  produces  cereals  and  fruits. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  Inyo  presents  a  wide  range,  the  temperature  varying  in  the 
valley,  from  records  kept  at  Keeler,  from  maximum  summer  temperature  of  105°,  to  low- 
est winter  of  21°,  through  six  years'  observations;  the  average  for  summer  being  about 
74°,  and  for  winter  about  50°.    The  average  annual  rainfall  for  same  period  is  3.46  inches. 

Agriculture. — Agriculture  is  limited  to  home  consumption. 

Horticulture. — The  number  of  orchards  and  vineyards  is  small,  varying  from  2  to  5 
acres  each  in  extent.  They  are  mainly  for  home  consumption  and  the  mines.  Excellent 
apples  are  grown  here,  and  peaches,  pears,  grapes,  and  small  fruits  do  well  where  prop- 
erly cared  for.  The  total  acreage  in  fruit  reported  is  491,  of  which  326  are  bearing  and 
165  not  bearing. 

Stock.— Stock  raising  is  carried  on  to  a  limited  extent,  the  assessment  reports  showing 
5,718  horses,  14,.529  head  of  cattle,  908  hogs,  385  mules,  5,250sheep,  and  7,025  goats.  Dairy- 
ing is  confined  to  the  supplying  of  local  demands. 

Timber.— The  timber  product  is  not  extensive,  mainly  for  mining  and  fuel  supply. 

Mining. — The  majority  of  developments  so  far  have  been  in  the  way  of  silver,  the  ores 
produced  being  principally  argentiferous  galenas,  diflficult  and  expensive  to  reduce,  in. 
this  locality,  on  account  of  scarcity  of  fuel.  Many  mines  have  formerly  been  worked 
in  the  Cerro  Gordo,  Keeler,  Owens  Lake,  Kearsarge,  and  Independence  districts,  but 
the  remoteness  from  railroad  facilities,  the  low  price  of  silver,  and  the  refractory  char- 
acter of  the  ores  have  retarded  development.  The  prospective  extension  of  the  railroad 
south  to  a  junction  with  the  A.  it  P.  R.  R.,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  when  accom- 
plished will  greatly  stimulate  prospecting  in  this  district. 

A  very  fine  quality  of  marble  is  found  and  has  been  quarried  to  a  considerable  extent 
and  used  in  manj'  fine  buildings  in  San  Francisco.  Soda,  borax,  and  sulphur  are  found 
in  inexhaustible  quantities,  and  many  tons  are  shipped  annually. 

Prices  of  Land. — Prices  of  land  range  from  $1  25,  Government,  to  $10  and  .$20  for  good 
land.    Improved  land  is  worth  more. 

KERN. 

Kern  County  is  bounded  north  by  Tulare,  east  by  San  Bernardino,  south  by  I^os 
Angeles  and  Ventura,  and  west  by  San  Luis  Obispo  County. 

Statistics.— Area,  8,1(X)  square  miles,  or  5,137,920  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,824,843  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $13,329,064.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.45.    Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  202.51;  assessed  at  $1,578,739.    County  property,  !i!48,- 


28  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

000.  County  debt,  $20,000.  Number  of  schools,  58.  School  children  between  5  and  17 
years,  2,225.    Public  school  money,  $91,764  67.    Population,  census  of  1890,  10,031. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Bakersfield,  the  county  seat,  population  about 
4,000,  is  a  rapidly  growing  place.  Kern  Citj',  adjoining  it,  is  practically  one  with  it.  The 
city  is  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  314  miles  from  San  Francisco,  and  170  miles 
from  Los  Angeles.  It  is  well  provided  with  gas,  electric,  and  water  works,  street  car 
lines,  fine  public  buildings,  churches,  public  schools,  and  substantial  hotels  and  business 
blocks.  A  large  number  of  elegant  residences  have  been  erected  the  past  year.  Delano, 
Rosedale,  ]\Iojave,  Caliente,  Kern,  Miramonte,  Havilah,  Kernville,  and  Greenwich  are 
other  important  towns  among  many  in  the  county. 

Topograpliy. — The  county  lies  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley, 
where  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Coast  Range  join.  About  one  third  its  area  lies  in  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley,  and  is  called  the  Kern  Delta,  being  inclosed  on  the  east,  west,  and  south 
by  mountains,  and  open  toward  the  north.  The  1,500,000  acres  of  valley  land  slopes 
gently  from  east  to  west  about  7  feet  to  the  mile  to  its  lowest  depression,  then  rises 
gradually  till  it  meets  the  Coast  Range.  Among  the  mountains  are  numerous  fertile 
valleys  devoted  mainly  to  cereals  and  stock,  the  chief  of  which  is  Tehachapi  and  South 
Fork  of  Kern  River,  containing  30  to  40  square  miles  of  arable  and  irrigable  land.  The 
county  also  includes  a  part  of  the  Mojave  Desert,  in  the  southeast  corner  below  the 
Tehachapi  range.  The  county  ranges  in  altitude  from  800  feet  in  its  lowest  part  to 
10,000  feet  in  the  Sierra  Nevada.  The  richest  agricultural  lands  lie  in  the  central  portion 
of  the  county,  which  at  one  time  was  a  region  of  desert  and  marsh,  but  it  has  been 
reclaimed  by  a  system  of  irrigation  and  drainage.  The  section,  extending  about  35  miles 
north  by  west,  had  originally  a  drainage  by  Kern  Lake  and  Buena  Vista  Slough  to 
Tulare  Lake.  Buena  Vista  Lake  has  been  converted  into  a  reservoir  for  storage  water 
for  summer  irrigation,  and  the  diversion  of  Kern  River  has  transformed  former  lakes 
and  marshes  into  arable  land.  The  principal  streams  are  Kern  River  and  Poso  Creek, 
which  supply  the  grand  irrigation  system  of  the  county.  Kern  River  ranks  as  third  in 
size  of  the  rivers  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley.  It  rises  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  in 
Tulare  County,  having  two  large  forks  flowing  southwesterly  100  miles.  It  has  a  catch- 
ment area  of  2,383  square  miles,  giving  it  a  flow  in  time  of  floods  of  20,000  cubic  feet  per 
second. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  Kern  County  varies  from  some  comparatively  worthless  to  much 
of  unsurpassed  fertility.  The  valley  lands  of  the  county  represent  the  accumulation 
for  countless  ages  of  the  richest  elements  of  plant  food.  Much  of  it  is  similar  to  the 
famous  white  ash  soil  of  Fresno.  This  is  varied  with  a  fine  loamy  sand,  easily  worked, 
very  deep,  and  remarkably  fertile  under  irrigation.  Occasional  streaks  of  adobe  or 
clayey  soil  are  found,  with  here  and  there  patches  of  alkali.  The  soil,  plainly  charged 
with  iron,  grows  reddish  in  tint  near  the  foothills,  and  is  of  the  same  character  as  the 
land  which  produces  the  highly  colored  oranges  of  some  portions  of  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. The  soil  in  the  small  mountain  valleys  is  usually  a  black  loam,  well  adapted  to 
apples,  pears,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables.  In  the  higher  foothills  there  is  a  large 
admixture  of  gravel. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  the  county,  like  that  of  others  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley, 
varies  from  plain  to  mountain.  In  the  winter  the  arctic  rigor  of  the  mountains  is  sep- 
arated from  the  perpetual  mild  spring  of  the  valleys  by  only  a  few  hours'  ride.  The 
average  temperature  at  Bakersfield  is,  spring  and  fall,  65°;  winter,  50°;  summer,  85°. 
The  highest  recorded  extreme  of  the  valley  is  118°,  and  the  lowest  16°,  both  extremely 
rare,  especially  the  lower  one.  The  hot  days  are  relieved  by  cool  nights,  as  well  as  by 
the  extreme  dryness  of  the  air.  The  annual  average  rainfall  is  only  5  inches,  a 
shortage  for  which  nature  has  provided  abundant  compensation  in  the  deep  snows  of 
the  mountains,  thus  providing  an  inexhaustible  supply  for  the  vast  system  of  irrigation, 
which  is  the  distinguishing  feature  of  the  county. 

Irrigation.— This  system  is  the  most  extensive  and  costly  in  the  United  States.  The 
combined  length  of  main  canals  and  laterals  is  over  1,500  miles.  The  largest  of  these, 
the  Calloway,  diverted  from  Kern  River  about  a  mile  and  a  half  northeast  of  Bakers- 
field, is  120  feet  wide  on  top,  80  on  the  bottom,  and  7  deep.  It  has  a  grade  of  four  fifths 
of  a  foot  per  mile,  runs  northeast  for  32  miles,  and  supplies  water  for  200,000  acres. 
Sixty-five  distributing  ditches  are  taken  from  this  main  at  different  points,  having  an 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  29 

aggregate  length  of  150  miles,  and  varying  in  width  from  8  to  20  feet.  For  a  long  time 
irrigation  in  this  county  was  restricted  to  the  diversion  of  water  from  Kern  River  by 
small  ditches  and  for  short  distances  only,  until,  convinced  of  the  immensely  increased 
value  and  productiveness  given  to  these  fertile  soils  by  the  application  of  water,  the 
means  and  energies  of  enterprising  capitalists  and  large  land  owners  of  the  county 
were  liberally  contributed  to  the  construction  of  this  splendid  system,  which  constitutes 
to-day  at  once  a  tribute  to  their  foresight,  and  tlie  chief  cause  of  the  present  unexampled 
prosperity  of  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  interests  of  the  county.  The  exjjcndi- 
tures  in  this  connection  have  exceeded  .|4,000,00O.  .Much  of  the  land  under  this  system 
is  held  by  certain  capitalists,  and  is  offered  for  sale  in  small  tracts,  at  low  prices,  and  on 
the  most  advantageous  terms,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  whole  will  have  passed 
into  the  hands  of  small  holders. 

Agriculture.— Cereals  are  largely  produced,  both  in  the  valleys  and  on  the  higher 
levels.  Wheat  growing  is  the  leading  industry  of  Tehachapi.  Barley,  oats,  and  rye  are 
raised  to  some  extent,  and  Indian  corn  is  extensively  cultivated  in  the  valley,  growing 
to  an  astonishing  size.  Alfalfa  is  the  standard  feed  crop,  growing  on  the  irrigated  lands 
with  unsurpassed  luxuriance,  and  yielding  from  three  to  seven  crops  a  season,  of  two 
tons  at  each  cutting  to  the  acre.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  gives  :  Sowings  of  wheat, 
40,000  acres  ;  oats,  500;  barley,  10,000 ;  corn,  2,000;  hay  (grahi),  1,500.  The  rich  irrigated 
soils  are  well  adapted  to  hops,  tomatoes,  melons,  and  all  varieties  of  vegetables.  The 
rail  shipments  of  grain  for  1892  were  18,130,000  pounds ;  hay,  5,116,000  pounds,  and  pota- 
toes, 1,8(18,000  pounds. 

Horticulture.— In  common  with  other  adapted  localities,  Kern  County  has  of  late 
years  turned  her  attention  largely  to  fruit  culture.  Under  the  influence  of  complete 
irrigation,  loose,  easily  worked,  deep  soils,  and  perfect  climatic  advantages,  the  growth 
of  the  industry  has  been  rapid  and  the  results  marvelous.  Very  large  areas  are  now 
being  set  to  fruit,  and  this  promises  to  be  the  leading  business  of  the  future.  The  peach 
here  attains  enormous  size,  and  the  trees  bear  profuse  crops.  Prunes,  apricots,  nectar- 
ines, plums,  and  berries  yield  abundantly,  while  the  vineyards  of  raisin  and  table  grapes 
produce  as  lavishly  in  amount  and  as  excellently  In  quality  as  In  the  adjoining  counties 
of  Tulare  and  Fresno.  Bartlett  pears  are  an  excellent  crop,  and  apples  do  well  in  the 
mountain  valleys  and  higher  foothills.  The  total  acreage  In  fruit  trees  and  raisin 
and  table  grapes  is  9,192,  of  which  7,386  are  in  bearing  and  1,806  not  bearing.  The  ship- 
ments of  green  fruits  by  rail  in  1892  were  1,244,000  pounds;  raisins,  326,000  pounds.  The 
chief  fruit  regions  are  Bakerstield,  Delano,  Rosedale,  Onyx,  Weldon,  Kernville,  and 
Glenvllle.  At  Mlramonte  the  fig  has  no  superior  In  the  State.  The  fruit  output  of  the 
county  will  be  immensely  increased  in  the  next  two  years.  Most  of  the  fruit  of  Kern  is 
shipped  in  the  dried  form,  which  is  preferred  by  many. 

Stock  Raising. — Stock  ranks,  in  Kern,  among  the  greatest  sources  of  wealth.  Thou- 
sands of  head  of  stock  are  raised  on  the  rank  feed  of  the  plains.  In  addition  to  this 
there  is  a  large  extent  of  natural  range.  The  best  blooded  stock  is  found  in  this  county. 
The  rail  shipments  of  stock,  hides,  and  wool  for  1892  were  40,300,000  pounds.  The 
Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  in  the  county,  9,193  horses,  74,685  cattle,  5,326  hogs,  1,053 
mules,  423,588  sheep,  485  goats,  1,120  dozen  poultry— probably  75  per  cent  of  the  exact 
number.  The  value  of  the  shipments  by  rail  for  eleven  months,  ending  December  1, 
1892,  was:  Cattle,  $772,240;  horses,  $140,000;  sheep,  .1;202,000;  hogs,  |63,000;  total,  ii!l,177,240. 

Timber. — Aside  from  the  heavy  growth  of  oak  in  the  foothills,  useful  for  fuel,  there 
are  in  the  mountains  large  forests  of  pine,  redwood,  cedar,  fir,  spruce,  and  hemlock, 
extending  the  entire  length  of  the  county,  and  several  saw  mills  are  at  work  among 
them. 

Mining.— The  gold  fever  of  1849  extended  to  this  county.  Gold  and  silver  mining  are 
still  successfully  prosecuted  in  the  mountains.  There  are  numerous  deposits  of  baser 
metals  awaiting  the  advent  of  railroad  transportation,  capital,  and  population  for  their 
development.  Petroleum  and  asphaltum  are  produced  largely  In  the  Sunset  or  Hazel- 
ton  District,  about  35  miles  southwest  from  Bakersfield,  sufficiently  to  have  justified  the 
building  of  a  branch  railroad  by  the  Southern  Pacific  Company,  with  terminus  at 
Asphalto. 

Advantages.- No  county  offers  superior  advantages  to  settlers.  There  is  a  consider- 
able movement  in  settlement  and  a  colony  system  for  the  subdivision  of  large  holdings. 


30  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

It  has  the  "greatest  irrigated  farm  in  the  world,"  the  largest  irrigating  canals  in  the 
State,  the  most  extensive  alfalfa  fields  ever  planted,  and  the  largest  continuous  body 
of  arable  land  in  California.  Extensive  experiments  in  everj^  department  of  agriculture 
and  horticulture  have  been  carried  out,  of  which  the  settlers  have  the  fullest  benefit 
It  has  an  abundance  of  water  for  irrigation,  perfect  climate,  rich  soil,  and  ample  trans- 
portation facilities. 

LAKE. 

Lake  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mendocino,  east  by  Colusa  and  Yolo,  south 
by  Napa  and  Yolo,  and  west  by  Mendocino  and  Sonoma  Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,078  square  miles,  or  704,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
200,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  295,333  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property, 
$3,874,962.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.65.  County  property,  $17,500.  County 
debt,  $47,800.  Number  of  schools,  44.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,641. 
School  money,  $27,037  12.     Population,  census  of  1890,  7,103. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — The  county  seat  is  Lakeport;  population,  996. 
It  is  beautifully  located  on  the  shores  of  Clear  Lake,  with  two  banks,  two  newspapers, 
and  fine  county  buildings  and  business  blocks.  The  principal  towns  are  Upper  Lake, 
Lower  Lake,  Kelseyville,  and  Middletown. 

Railroads. — Though  this  county  has  hitherto  been  destitute  of  railroad  connections, 
the  S.  F.  &  N.  P.  R.  R.  has  recently  been  built  to  Ukiah,  Mendocino  County,  and 
arrangements  are  being  made  for  extension  to  Lakeport,  a  distance  of  16  miles,  bringing 
it  within  six  hours  of  San  Francisco. 

Topography. — Lake  County,  while  not  possessing  such  lofty  and  precipitous  mount- 
ains as  other  mountain  counties,  has  often  been  called  the  Switzerland  of  America, 
with  its  hills  of  varying  altitudes,  some  4,000  feet  high,  its  lovely  lakes  and  its 
enchanting  valleys.  Uncle  Sam,  a  mountain  at  the  foot  of  Clear  Lake,  is  an  extinct 
volcano.  The  county  lies  between  two  broken  ridges  of  mountains,  the  Myacamas  on 
the  west  and  the  Bear  Mountains  of  the  Coast  Range  on  the  east.  The  larger  part  of 
its  area  is  mountainous  or  hilly,  but  there  are  numerous  fertile  valleys  among  its  hills. 
At  the  southern  extremity  is  Mount  St.  Helena;  at  the  northern,  Mount  Hull;  in  the 
center.  Clear  Lake,  a  magnificent  sheet  of  water  6  miles  by  25,  at  an  elevation  of  1,330 
feet  above  the  sea,  skirted  on  its  eastern  shore  by  high  but  not  abrupt  mountains, 
and  on  its  western  shore  almost  bisected  by  Mount  Konocti,  or  "  Uncle  Sam."  The 
principal  valleys  are  Big  Vallej',  on  the  southwestern  shore  of  Clear  Lake,  comprising 
2,500  acres  and  watered  by  three  streams;  Scott  Valley,  along  Scott  Creek,  with  7,000 
acres;  Bachelor  Vallej',  north  and  west  of  the  lake,  with  3,000  acres;  Upper  Lake  Valley, 
north  of,  and  Lower  Lake  Valley,  south  of  the  lake,  the  latter  being  formed  by  the 
union  of  Coysey  and  Seigler  Creek  Valleys.  Coyote  Valley,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  contains  15,000  to  20,000  acres  of  line  land.  Besides  these  are  Burns,  Cobb,  Capay, 
Clover,  Donovan,  and  a  host  of  others,  all  fertile,  productive,  and  well  watered. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  these  valleys  is  rich  alluvium,  of  great  depth  and  rare  fertility. 
The  hills  surrounding  them  have  a  large  admixture  of  gravel,  but  in  many  cases  the  soil 
is  of  great  depth  and  very  retentive  of  moisture.  It  is  all  excellent  for  all  kinds  of 
fruits. 

Irrigation  is  unnecessary  in  this  county,  owing  to  generous  rainfall  and  retentive 
soil. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  Lake  is  charming,  the  winters  not  severely  cold  nor  the 
summers  oppressive.  Flowers  usually  bloom  all  winter.  During  summer  there  are 
gentle  afternoon  breezes,  and  almost  invariably  cool  and  refreshing  nights.  Fogs  are 
rare  and  chilling  winds  unknown.  We  have  access  to  no  records  of  temperature,  but 
the  average  annual  rainfall  is  about  32  inches. 

Agriculture.— The  agriculture  is  mostly  for  local  demand,  owing  to  lack  of  transpor- 
tation facilities,  yet  large  quantities  of  cereals  are  raised  in  the  numerous  fertile  valleys. 
The  main  crojis  are  wheat,  barley,  oats,  corn,  hops,  potatoes,  and  all  vegetables.  Hops 
are  an  especially  profitable  crop. 

Horticulture.— The  fruit  industry  is  yearly  attracting  more  attention  in  Lake  County, 
owing  to  the  great  adaptation  of  the  soils  of  its  numerous  valleys  and  the  hillsides 
bordering  them.    The  principal  products  are  apples,  prunes,  peaches,  and  pears,  though 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HEK     RESOURCES.  31 

olives  and  grapes  do  exceedingly  well.  This  industry  will  be  greatly  stimulated  when 
the  county  has  established  railroad  connection  with  the  outside  world.  At  present 
summer  visitors  use  all  the  fruit  raised.  Lake  County  reports  1,729  acres  in  fruit— 1,022 
bearing  and  707  not  bearing.  Wine  making  is  an  important  industry  at  Lower  Lake, 
Middletown,  and  on  the  northwest  shore  of  Clear  Lake.  The  wine  vintage  is  of  excel- 
lent quality,  and  Lake  County  wines  are  in  great  demand.  A  reliable  correspondent 
reports  a  very  large  acreage  jilanted  to  prunes  the  past  two  years.  Lake  County  apples 
took  a  itremium  at  the  World's  Fair  in  New  Orleans. 

Stock  Raising.— The  entire  county  is  an  excellent  stock  and  dairy  district,  though  not 
so  extensively  developed  as  it  might  profitably  be.  The  raising  of  blooded  stock  is  a 
prominent  industry  in  this  county.  The  Assessor  reports  3,228  horses,  6,629  cattle,  1,434 
hogs,  237  mules,  9,851  sheep,  and  1,149  goats. 

Timber.— The  timber  product  is  considerable,  most  of  that  cut  being  sugar  pine, 
besides  yellow  pine,  fir,  cedar,  and  oak.  There  are  11  saw  mills  in  the  county.  ^Many 
acres  of  line  timber  are  untouched  and  subject  to  entry  under  Government  laws.  The 
timber  supply  is  almost  inexhaustible. 

Minerals.— The  leading  mining  industry  of  Lake  is  in  quicksilver.  At  Middletown 
the  population  has  increased  one  third  the  past  year,  principally  owing  to  the  immense 
developments  in  that  vicinity.  The  Mirabel  and  Great  Western  Mines  each  turn  out 
from  300  to  500  Hasks  of  quicksilver  monthly.  A  new  mine  is  now  being  opened  4  miles 
from  Lower  Lake,  with  flattering  prospects.  Coal  discoveries  have  been  made  near 
Lakeport.  Gold  and  silver  are  found;  also  copper,  mica,  limestone,  asbestos,  soda,  borax, 
sulphur,  etc.    A  railroad  would  contribute  renewed  activity  to  all  these  developments. 

Artesian  Wells.— Clear,  flowing  water,  in  almost  any  part  of  the  county,  is  reached 
at  a  depth  varying  from  60  to  100  feet,  and  in  some  places  there  are  wells  throwing  a 
6-inch  stream  12  feet  above  the  surface. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.- There  are  at  least  fifteen  health  resorts  in  Lake 
County,  mostly  owing  their  existence  to  renowned  mineral  springs,  such  as  iron,  sul- 
phur, soda,  magnesia,  arsenic,  in  many  instances  in  close  proximity;  among  them  are 
Bartlett's,  Allen's,  Zeigler's,  Harbin's,  and  a  number  of  others.  These  springs  are 
reached  either  by  way  of  Cloverdale  or  Ukiah  and  stage  from  the  south,  or  by  stage 
from  Sites,  in  Colusa  County,  from  the  east.  There  are  most  excellent  hotel  accommo- 
dations at  all  these  places  of  resort,  where  you  may  get  hotel  fare  or  hire  a  cottage,  or 
camp  out,  as  many  do.  Clear  Lake  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  fed  by  several  streams; 
both  lake  and  streams  are  alive  with  trout,  salmon,  perch,  carp,  and  many  other  varie- 
ties of  fish. 

Prices  of  Land.— Prices  of  land  vary  according  to  location.  First-class  improved, 
near  towns,  from  $100  to  |200  an  acre;  land  as  good,  unimproved,  from  $30  to  $100. 
Much  Government  land  can  yet  be  had  by  searching  for  it.  In  general,  the  man  of 
moderate  means  has  excellent  opportunities  for  securing  a  home  in  this  county. 

LASSEN. 

Lassen  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Modoc,  west  by  Shasta,  south  by  Plumas 
County,  and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada. 

Statistics.— Area,  4,750  square  miles,  or  3,040,000  acres.  Unentered  and  unsurveyed 
Government  land,  about  2,500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  381,744  acres.  Total  assessed 
value  of  all  property,  $2,852,156.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.80.  Number  of 
miles  of  railroad,  47.60;  assessed  at  $88,910.  County  property,  $15,000.  County  debt,  none. 
Number  of  schools,  36.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,033.  School  money, 
$22,141  49.     Population,  census  of  1890,  4,144. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— The  county  seat  is  Susan ville,  located  on  the 
Susan  River,  just  beneath  the  pine-covered  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  on  its  east- 
ern slope,  at  an  elevation  above  the  sea  of  4,200  feet.  It  has  ample  water  power.  The  place 
is  a  mass  of  shade,  from  its  abundant  orchards  of  apple,  pear,  peach,  plum,  prune,  and 
cherry  trees.  It  is  a  substantial,  well-built,  thriving  town,  with  good  public  and  business 
buildings,  churches,  schools,  and  two  newspapers.  The  United  States  Land  Office  of 
the  district  is  here  located.  The  principal  towns  are  Amedee,  present  terminus  of  the 
Nevada  and  California  Railroad  from  Reno;  Bieber,  on  Pitt  River;  Janesville,  Bunting- 


32  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

ville,  and  ]Millford,  all  with  stores  and  mills,  and  surrounded  with  orchards  and  grain 
and  hay  ranches. 

Topography. — This  county  lies  on  the  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  and  is 
a  succession  of  mountain  ranges  and  valleys.  About  375,000  acres  are  valley,  325,000 
acres  are  foothill,  anti  the  remainder  mountainous.  In  its  eastern  part  the  hills  are 
regardless  of  order  of  arrangement;  in  the  central  and  western  parts,  their  trend  is 
mainly  to  the  southeast  and  northwest.  In  the  west,  Lassen  Buttes  rise  over  10,000  feet 
above  the  sea-level.  Diamond  Mountains  divide  Lassen  from  Plumas  County.  Big 
Valley,  in  the  extreme  north,  watered  and  drained  by  Pitt  River,  which  runs  west  into 
the  Sacramento,  extends  west  into  Modoc  County,  and  has  in  Lassen  County  about 
75,000  acres.  Honey  Lake  Valley  borders  Diamond  Mountains,  and  is  45  miles  from 
southeast  to  northwest,  and  about  15  miles  wide.  Long  Vallej',  in  the  extreme  southeast, 
unlike  the  other  valleys,  is  of  small  value  for  agricultural  purposes.  In  the  east-central 
portion  lie  the  Madeline  Plains,  a  large,  level  tract,  35  by  15  miles,  5,300  feet  altitude, 
and  covered  with  sagebrush.  Eagle  Lake  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  with  an  area  of 
27,813  acres.    Honey  Lake  lies  too  low  to  be  used  for  irrigation. 

Soils.— The  soil  along  the  streams  is  either  a  dark  or  sandy  loam;  on  the  plateaus, 
lighter  loam;  on  the  foothills  and  mountains,  decomposed  lava,  which  element  enters 
also  into  the  composition  of  the  lower  soils.  Honey  Lake  Valley  is  largely  sedimentary, 
from  waters  formerly  covering  its  entire  area,  rich  in  all  of  the  elements  needed  for 
vegetation,  whether  humus  or  mineral,  and  bears  continuous  cropping  without  material 
deterioration.  The  soil  is  several  feet  deep,  with  heavier  and  stronger  stratum  underly- 
ing, which  carries  more  clay.  There  is  no  hardpan  or  hog-wallows.  I^ast  of  Honey 
Lake  it  much  resembles  the  fertile  white  ash  land  of  Fresno  County.  Big  Valley  has  a 
large  body  of  level  agricultural  land,  of  black  sedimentary  loam,  suited  to  heavy  crops  of 
grain,  alfalfa,  or  fruits. 

Climate. — The  air  is  bracing  and  tonic  at  such  high  elevation,  and  the  climate 
exceedingly  healthful.  In  winter  there  are  heavy  snowfalls,  and  the  climate  approxi- 
mates in  character  that  of  Salt  Lake,  though  more  agreeable,  being  cooler  in  summer 
and  warmer  in  winter.  No  winter  crops  can  be  grown,  and  in  summer  little  if  any  rain 
falls,  rendering  irrigation  necessary.  Susanville  meteorological  reports  give  for  1891: 
Average  winter  temperature,  lowest,  22°;  highest,  62°;  average  summer  temperature, 
lowest,  45°;  highest,  91°;  extreme  lowest  winter,  January,  4°;  extreme  highest  summer, 
July  and  August,  93°.  The  average  annual  rainfall  is  about  23  inches,  and  of  snow, 
about  90  inches,  the  latter  from  November  to  March,  the  heaviest  in  December  and 
January. 

Irrigation.— Extensive  systems  of  irrigation  are  in  use  and  being  built,  using  the 
available  waters  of  Susan  Piiver  and  Eagle  Lake,  and  a  large  amount  of  arid  land  is 
being  gradually  reclaimed  and  brought  into  great  productiveness.  There  are  a  number 
of  irrigation  systems,  with  their  various  reservoirs  and  canals,  having  an  assessed  valu- 
ation last  year  of  .f  10,500,  and  these  are  being  actively  enlarged,  extended,  and  increased 
in  number.  By  these  facilities  for  irrigation  vast  bodies  of  fertile  lands  will  soon  be 
brought  under  cultivation.  The  principal  irrigation  systems  are  located  in  Honey  Lake 
Valley,  Susan  River,  Willow  Creek,  Long  Valley  Creek,  Secret  Valley,  Madeline  and 
Horse  Lake  Valleys, 'and  Willow,  Grasshopper,  Pitt,  Fish,  and  many  other  valleys. 
There  are  twenty-two  permanent  lakes  in  the  county,  with  an  aggregate  area  of  94,000 
acres.    Much  land  is  being  entered  under  the  Desert  Land  Act. 

Agriculture.— Wheat,  barley,  rye,  and  oats  yield  heavy  and  certain  crops.  Wheat 
averages  30  to  40  bushels  to  the  acre;  barley,  50  bushels,  and  oats,  40  bushels.  Alfalfa  is 
largely  grown,  and  yields,  under  irrigation,  three  or  four  crops  a  year,  of  6  to  8  tons  per 
acre  in  the  aggregate.  One  case  is  reported  of  a  yield  of  6  tons  the  first  seeding,  on 
sagebrush  land  on  Willow  Creek.  Red  top  clover,  timothy,  and  other  natural  grasses 
grow  abundantly,  and  yield  naturally,  without  irrigation,  1  to  2  tons  an  acre.  Potatoes 
yield  from  200  to  400  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  of  finest  quality.  Corn  is  grown  in  some 
places. 

Horticulture.— Lassen  is  making  rapid  progress  in  fruit  culture.  Its  soils  are  well 
fitted  for  apples  especially,  and  apricots,  pears,  peaches,  and  plums  grow  well.  The 
apple  acreage  is  distributed  as  follows:  ISIillford,  150  acres;  Janesville,  35  acres;  Susanville, 
70  acres;  Long  Valley,  20  acres;  Big  Valley,  12  acres,  and  scattering,  50  acres.    One  sample 


.y^;'''^:Y^'j^m£^' 


^^^i   .  i 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES.  33 

of  yield  from  400  trees  is,  crop  sold  for  $1,500,  cider  and  vinegar,  $400.  The  total  area 
in  fruit  in  1892,  582  acres — 414  acres  bearing  and  171  not  bearing.  The  apples  of  Lassen 
County  are  unsurpassed  anywhere,  being  of  fine  quality  and  large  size,  and  their  culti- 
vation is  destined  to  become  a  most  important  industry  under  the  stimulus  of  irrigation 
and  settlement. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — Stock  raising  and  dairying  are  the  leading  pursuits  at 
present.  Stock  must  be  well  jirotected  in  winter  to  give  good  results.  The  butter  prod- 
uct of  Lassen  is  of  the  finest  quality.  The  stock  ranges  are  excellent.  Bunch  grass 
furnishes  abundant  feed,  though  much  better  results  are  obtained  from  the  cultivated 
grasses,  grains,  and  alfalfa  fields.  xVs  is  the  case  with  some  other  counties  of  California, 
better  facilities  of  railroad  communication  will  greatly  stimulate  these  industries. 

Timber. — The  county  contains  about  500,000  acres  of  valuable  timber,  and  300,000  acres 
of  light  timber.  Eight  saw  mills  supply  the  local  demand.  With  railroads  an  immense 
quantity  of  lumber  could  be  furnished,  of  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  and  cedar. 

Mining.— This  is  not  properly  a  mining  county,  though  there  are  a  few  paying  mines, 
both  quartz  and  placer,  especially  south  of  Susanville  and  northward  at  Hayden  Hill. 
Some  rich  gold  finds  were  reported  during  July,  1892. 

Prices  of  Land. — Unimproved  lands  without  water  can  be  located  under  the  Desert 
Land  Act,  and  improved  with  water  varies  from  $25  to  $50,  and  in  some  cases  to  $100, 
according  to  quality  and  location. 

LOS  ANGELES. 

Los  Angeles  County  is  bounded  north  by  Kern,  east  by  San  Bernardino,  south  by 
Orange  County  and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  west  by  Ventura  County. 

Statistics. — Area,  4,142  square  miles,  or  2,650,880  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
466,569  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,041,898  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$82,839,924.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.45.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
279.58;  assessed  at  $2,334,773.  County  property,  $1,030,000.  County  debt,  .$1,011,500.  Num- 
ber of  schools,  439.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  25,576.  School  money,  $370,- 
513  49.     Population,  census  of  1890,  101,410. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Los  Angeles,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population, 
census  of  1890,  of  51,100,  and  is  the  second  city  in  population  in  the  State.  It  is  the  com- 
mercial metropolis  of  the  southern  counties,  and  is  pleasantly  located,  about  15  miles 
from  the  ocean,  and  an  equal  distance  from  the  mountains.  "Within  the  city  limits  are 
hills  that  afford  picturesque  residence  sites.  The  city  has  grown  from  a  sleepy,  semi- 
Mexican  pueblo  of  11,000  people,  in  1880,  to  a  handsome  modern  city  of  over  50,000  in 
1890.  The  present  population  is  estimated  at  65,000.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the  city 
has  quadrupled  in  ten  years.  There  are  100  miles  of  graded  and  graveled  streets,  11 
miles  of  paved  streets,  100  miles  of  cement  sidewalks,  sewer,  water,  and  electric  light 
systems,  and  100  miles  of  street  railway  track,  electric  and  cable.  During  the  past  seven 
years,  buildings  to  the  value  of  $20,000,000  have  been  erected,  including  a  $.500,000  Court- 
house and  a  $200,000  City  Hall.  Numerous  large  blocks  and  residences  are  now  being 
built.  Eleven  railroads  center  in  Los  Angeles.  The  commercial  future  of  the  city  is 
assured,  it  being  on  a  direct  line  of  the  shortest  route  and  easiest  grades  between  the 
two  oceans.  Business  is  good.  Vacant  houses  are  scarce.  The  nineteen  banks  contain 
$11,000,000  on  deposit.  The  bank  clearings  have  been  steadily  and  largely  increasing 
during  the  past  six  months.  Real  estate  is  on  the  upgrade,  and  Eastern  capitalists  are 
making  large  investments.  Manufacturing  industries  employ  several  thousand  people. 
There  are  good  hotels,  theaters,  schools,  colleges,  churches,  and  libraries.  The  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  a  live  organization,  does  much  to  further  the  interests  of  this  section. 
The  floral  wealth  of  the  Los  Angeles  gardens  excites  the  admiration  of  visitors. 

Pasadena,  "  the  crown  of  the  valley,"  a  beautiful  residence  town,  twenty  minutes 
ride,  by  two  lines  of  railroad,  from  Los  Angeles,  has  grown  within  twenty  years  from  a 
sheep  pasture  to  a  world-renowned  city  of  beautiful  homes,  with  a  population  of  some 
7,000.    It  has  paved  streets,  fine  business  blocks,  churches,  schools,  library,  and  banks. 

Monrovia  and  Duarte  are  in  the  heart  of  the  San  Gabriel  Valley  citrus  belt. 

Azusa  is  a  flourishing  horticultural  settlement  in  the  San  Gabriel  Valley,  where 
oranges  and  strawberries  are  largely  grown. 


34  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES. 

Pomona,  30  miles  east  of  Los  Angeles,  is  a  thriving  little  city,  which  has  grown  from  a 
population  of  130  in  1880,  to  about  5,000  to-daj'.  It  is  the  leading,  "all  around  "fruit 
center  of  the  county,  oranges  and  deciduous  fruits  being  grown  in  about  equal  propor- 
tion.   It  is  also  headquarters  of  the  olive  industry  in  the  county. 

Downey,  Norwalk,  and  Compton  are  quiet,  prosperous  places,  in  the  Los  Nietos  Val- 
ley, surrounded  by  fertile  fields,  upon  which  large  crops  of  alfalfa  and  fruit  are  raised. 

Whittier,  created  five  years  ago  as  a  Quaker  colony,  has  grown  into  a  handsome  little 
city.  It  has  a  sightly  location,  on  a  sidehill.  The  lemon  thrives  here.  There  is  a  can- 
nery, fruit  drier,  and  large  nurseries.    The  State  Reform  School,  with  400  inmates,  is  here. 

Santa  Monica,  15  miles  from  Los  Angeles,  on  the  ocean,  has  about  2,000  population, 
well-graded  streets,  tasteful  residences  in  beautiful  grounds,  a  fine  beach,  a  number  of 
business  blocks,  and  a  large  hotel.  Four  miles  north  is  the  big  wharf,  and  3  miles  east 
the  National  Soldiers'  Home  with  about  1,000  inmates. 

Redondo  is  a  new  port  and  resort,  created  during  the  past  five  years.  A  large  ship- 
ping business  is  done  at  the  wharf.  There  is  a  pebble  beach,  good  fishing,  large  hotel, 
bath  houses,  etc. 

San  Pedro  is  chiefly  known  as  a  harbor,  but  deserves  to  be  more  frequented  as  a 
resort.    There  is  good  fishing  and  boating  in  the  harbor. 

Long  Beach  is  a  quiet  family  resort,  with  one  of  the  finest  beaches  on  the  coast.  A 
wharf  is  being  built. 

Between  Los  Angeles  and  the  ocean  are  Ingle  wood  and  The  Palms,  both  attractive 
residence  places.  Burbank  and  San  Fernando  are  north  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the  San 
Fernando  Valley.    Glendale  is  a  pleasant  northern  suburb  of  Los  Angeles. 

Topography.— About  four  fifths  of  the  area  of  Los  Angeles  County  is  capable  of 
cultivation,  with  water  supplied,  the  remainder  being  mountainous.  The  shore  line  is 
85  miles  in  length,  the  county  extending  from  30  to  50  miles  back  from  the  ocean.  The 
northern  portion  of  the  county  is  a  part  of  what  is  now  called  the  Mojave  Desert,  the 
western  section  of  which,  known  as  the  Antelope  Valley,  is  being  rapidly  settled  and 
cultivated.  South  of  this,  extending  almost  to  Los  Angeles  City,  is  the  great  San  Fer- 
nando Valley.  East  of  Los  Angeles  is  the  beautiful  San  Gabriel  Valley,  shut  in  from 
the  north  by  pine-clad  mountains.  This,  in  turn,  opens  into  the  Pomona  Valley.  Both 
are  celebrated  for  their  horticultural  products  and  beautiful  homes.  Westward  from 
the  county  seat,  toward  the  ocean,  extends  the  Santa  Monica  range  of  low  mountains. 
South  of  this  range,  between  the  city  and  the  ocean,  is  a  wide  and  fertile  plain,  with 
several  small  settlements.  Southeast  of  Los  Angeles  is  the  Los  Nietos  Valley,  a  fertile 
section,  with  plenty  of  moisture,  where  there  are  many  dairies,  corn  and  alfalfa  fields,  as 
well  as  orchards.  More  than  90  per  cent  of  the  development,  thus  far,  has  been  in  the 
southern  portion  of  the  county,  most  of  the  steep  mountains  and  waste  land  lying  in 
the  northern  section. 

Soils.— In  the  lower  valleys,  the  soil  consists  of  a  rich  alluvium,  deposited  by  streams 
in  past  ages.  The  upper  valleys  possess  all  grades  of  this  alluvium,  and  have,  also,  in 
some  places,  a  black  soil  called  adobe,  which  forms  in  winter  a  tenacious  mud.  It  is  well 
adapted  to  grain  and  some  varieties  of  fruit.  On  the  mesas,  or  plains,  there  is  much  soil 
composed  of  debris  washed  from  the  mountains,  mixed  with  vegetable  accumulations; 
also  some  sandy  clay.  A  large  area  is  rich,  sandy  loam,  with  water  at  from  5  to  12  feet 
below  the  surface.  On  the  rolling  and  table  lands  the  soil  is  warm,  porous,  and  more  or 
less  sandy,  well  adapted  to  fruit  culture.  Next  come  the  foothills,  with  much  decom- 
posed granite;  this  makes  the  choicest  citrus  fruit  land.  Beyond  are  the  mountains, 
much  of  the  land  in  which  is  good  for  pasturage,  with  small  arable  valleys.  Where 
there  are  so  many  varieties — sometimes  several  within  the  limits  of  one  farm — it  is  easy 
to  find  soil  adapted  to  any  product  that  can  be  raised  in  this  section. 

Climate.— A  remarkable  variety  of  climate  may  be  found  within  the  limits  of  the 
county,  the  difference  being  caused  by  elevation  and  distance  from  the  ocean.  On  the 
coast  it  is  cool  in  summer  and  a  little  warmer  in  winter.  There  are  occasional  fogs  at 
night.  This  climate  is  well  adapted  to  those  who  suffer  from  nervous  affections. 
Farther  inland  it  becomes  warmer,  and  in  places  decidedly  hot  at  times  during  mid- 
summer days,  although  there  is  always  a  gentle  breeze  from  the  ocean,  and  the  summer 
nights  are  cool  enough  to  make  blankets  welcome.  As  the  mountains  are  climbed  a 
cool,  bracing,  dry  air  is  encountered,  which  is  very  beneficial  to  consumptives.    On  a 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES.  35 

winter's  day  one  may  breakfast  by  the  seashore,  after  a  dip  in  the  ocean,  lunch  amid  the 
orange  groves  of  the  San  Gabriel  Valley,  and  dine  on  the  snow-capped  summits  of  the 
Sierra  Madre,  under  the  towering  pines.  The  climate  is  an  "all  the  year  round"  one, 
pleasant  in  summer  as  well  as  in  winter.  At  Los  Angeles  the  temperature  seldom 
reaches  100°,  and  still  more  rarely  sinks  to  the  freezing  point. 

Water  and  Irrigation. — For  citrus  fruits,  berries,  vegetables,  and  alfalfa,  irrigation  is 
generally  necessary.  With  irrigation,  two  and  sometimes  three  crops  of  vegetables  are 
frequently  raised  during  the  year.  Los  Angeles  County  is  well  supplied  with  water  for 
irrigation.  The  Los  Angeles  and  San  Gabriel  are  the  only  two  streams  of  importance, 
but  there  are  several  belts  of  land  where  abundant  water  for  irrigation  is  obtained  from 
flowing  artesian  wells,  notably  in  Pomona,  Antelope,  and  San  Fernando  Valleys,  and  in 
the  section  southeast  of  Los  Angeles  City,  which  appears  to  be  underlaid  by  a  great 
river.  There  are  many  irrigation  systems.  Much  water  now  goes  to  waste  which  will, 
in  time,  be  stored  in  mountain  canons  and  utilized  for  irrigation. 

Agriculture. — The  grain  area  of  the  county  is  being  gradually  extended  as  new  land 
in  the  great  Antelope  Valley  comes  under  the  plow.  Most  of  the  grain,  which  is  of  fine 
quality,  is  raised  north  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the  San  Fernando  and  Antelope  Valleys.  On 
some  large  ranches,  wheat  has  averaged  a  yield  of  a  ton  to  the  acre.  About  1,300  pounds 
is  considered  a  good  average.  South  and  east  of  the  city  much  corn  is  raised,  of  a 
quality  that  cannot  be  surpassed.  The  stalks  sometimes  attain  a  height  of  20  feet,  and 
the  yield  is  frequently  100  bushels  to  the  acre.  It  is  generally  raised  without  irrigation. 
Alfalfa  is  a  leading  crop,  and  finds  a  ready  market  at  good  prices.  Large  quantities  of 
grain  are  also  cut,  while  green,  for  hay.  Several  sections  of  the  county  are  eminently 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  sugar  beets,  samples  grown  having  given  high  tests. 

Winter  Vegetables. — There  are  several  narrow  belts  where  frost  is  practically 
unknown,  notably  in  the  Cahuenga  Valley,  between  Los  Angeles  and  the  ocean.  Here 
delicate  vegetables,  such  as  tomatoes,  Chile  peppers,  string  beans,  and  green  peas,  are 
raised  and  shipped  in  midwinter  to  San  Francisco  and  Eastern  points,  realizing  fancy 
prices.  Carloads  of  potatoes,  cabbage,  celery,  and  cauliflower  are  also  shipped  in  winter 
to  Eastern  points. 

Horticulture.— There  are  about  1,500,000  fruit  trees  growing  in  the  county,  and  plant- 
ing is  going  forward  with  great  rapidity.  Los  Angeles,  though  no  longer  the  center  of 
citrus  culture  in  California,  still  ships  more  oranges  than  any  other  county,  many  of 
the  trees  being  fifteen  years  old  and  upwards  and  bearing  immense  crops.  Most  of  the 
orange  orchards  are  in  the  San  Gabriel  and  Pomona  Valleys.  The  lemon  is  also  profit- 
ably grown  in  suitable  localities.  The  olive  has  been  largely  planted  of  late,  doing  well 
almost  everywhere  in  the  county.  Fine  oil  is  made.  The  chief  deciduous  fruits  are 
apricots  and  prunes,  which  yield  heavy  crops  and  pay  large  profits.  The  walnut  crop 
of  last  season  amounted  to  nearly  100  carloads.  Peaches,  grapes,  nectarines,  figs, 
almonds,  apples,  pears,  guavas,  berries,  and  a  number  of  other  fruits  are  also  grown. 
There  are  many  fruit  drying  establishments  and  two  of  the  largest  wineries  in  the 
State,  besides  several  smaller  ones.  Berries  are  very  profitable.  From  one  point  in  the 
San  Gabriel  Valley  500,000  pounds  of  strawberries  were  shipped  last  season.  The  total 
fruit  acreage  is  37,594— bearing,  20,472;  not  bearing,  17,122.  Of  this  acreage  there  are 
7,387  bearing  and  4,910  non-bearing  orange  trees.     The  plant  for  1892  was  8,724. 

Live  Stock. — Few  cattle  or  sheep  are  raised  on  open  ranges,  the  land  having  become 
too  valuable.  Hogs  do  well  on  alfalfa,  being  "finished  off  "  on  corn.  The  establishment 
of  a  large  packing  house  in  Los  Angeles  promises  to  give  a  great  impetus  to  this  indus- 
try. Los  Angeles  thoroughbred  horses  are  noted  throughout  the  country,  there  being 
two  celebrated  stables  in  the  San  Gabriel  Valley,  which  have  carried  off  many  of  the 
big  prizes  of  the  turf.  Dairy  products  always  command  a  high  price.  There  is  much 
butter  and  some  cheese  made,  yet  large  quantities  of  both  products  are  still  imported. 
The  same  is  true  of  eggs  and  poultry.  The  price  of  eggs  seldom  falls  below  25  cents  a 
dozen.  Much  honey  of  fine  quality  is  made  in  the  mountain  regions.  The  labor 
incidental  to  bee-keeping  is  light,  and  the  profits  generally  large  in  proportion  to  the 
small  amount  invested.  Some  ostriches  are  raised  for  their  feathers.  The  fishing 
industry  on  the  coast  is  capable  of  much  greater  development. 

Minerals.— Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  gold  was  discovered  and  washed  out  in 
this  county  many  years  before  the  discovery  by  Marshall  at  Coloma,  little  has  been 


36  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

done  to  prospect  or  develop  the  mineral  resources  of  the  county.  There  are  several 
promising  gold  ledges  near  Acton,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  which  are  being 
worked  on  a  limited  scale.  Some  rich  silver  ore  has  been  mined  in  the  San  Gabriel 
Valley.  Good  building  stone  is  quarried  at  several  points.  Near  Redondo  are  salt 
works.  Veins  of  copper,  iron,  and  coal  have  been  found.  The  oil  wells  at  Puente  sup- 
ply most  of  the  petroleum  used  for  fuel  in  Los  Angeles.  Large  oil  deposits  are  also 
worked  near  Newhall.  Several  flows  of  natural  gas  have  been  obtained  around  Loa 
Angeles,  offering  encouragement  to  further  search. 

Manufactures. — The  manufacturing  industry  is  yet  in  an  embryo  stage,  although  by 
no  means  unimportant.  Among  the  chief  articles  made  are  canned,  dried,  and  crystal- 
lized fruits,  iron  castings,  iron  and  cement  pipe,  machinery,  brick,  boxes,  flour,  crack- 
ers, soap,  doors  and  sash,  pottery,  mineral  water,  beers,  wine  and  brandy,  furniture, 
candy,  pickles,  and  ice.  A  smelter  and  a  hog-packing  factory  are  going  up  in  Los 
Angeles,  and  a  small  rolling  mill,  to  utilize  scrap  iron,  is  about  to  be  established. 
There  are  good  openings  for  more  fruit-preserving  works  and  creameries;  also  for  glass 
factories,  tanneries,  harness,  saddle,  and  shoe  factories,  paper  mills,  rope  works,  nail  and 
wool  factories. 

Harbors. — The  shipping  ports  of  Los  Angeles  are  San  Pedro  and  Picdondo,  to  which 
will  shortly  be  added  Santa  Monica— where  the  Southern  Pacific  Company  is  building  a 
wharf  4,600  feet  long— and  Long  Beach.  Government  engineers  have  recommended  an 
appropriation  of  nearly  .$3,000,000  for  the  creation  of  a  tirst-class  deep-water  harbor  at 
San  Pedro,  where  vessels  of  the  deepest  draught  may  come  to  the  wharves. 

Transportation.— The  transportation  facilities  of  the  county  are  unexcelled.  Besides 
the  Southern  Pacific  and  the  Santa  Fe,  which  are  transcontinental  lines,  and  their 
numerous  branches,  there  is  the  Terminal,  which  is  projected  as  the  Pacific  Coast  end  of 
a  third  transcontinental  route,  and  the  Redondo  Railway.  No  point  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  county  is  more  than  5  miles  from  a  railroad.  Vessels  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  Steamship  Company  call  regularly  for  freight  and  passengers  at  San  Pedro  and 
Redondo.  The  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Steamship  Company's  freight  steamers  also  call  at 
the  latter  place. 

Eesorts.— The  tourist  and  health  seeker  and  lover  of  nature  may  find  a  great  variety 
of  resorts  in  Los  Angeles  County,  both  seaside  and  mountain.  Santa  Monica,  Redondo, 
and  Long  Beach  afford  fine  bathing  facilities  all  the  year  round.  Santa  Catalina,  a 
large  and  romantic  island,  20  miles  from  shore,  is  much  frequented  in  summer.  In  the 
mountains  are  cool  canons  and  shady  nooks  among  the  pines.  A  railroad  is  being  built 
up  the  Sierra  Madre,  back  of  Pasadena.  There  are  mineral  springs  at  several  points. 
Good  hotels  abound,  and  charges  are  reasonable. 

MARIN. 

Marin  County  is  decidedly  a  county  of  water  frontage,  being  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Sonoma  County,  west  and  south  by  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Golden  Gate,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  San  Francisco  by  only  a  mile  and  a  half  at  its  nearest  point,  and  east  by 
San  Francisco  Bay. 

Statistics.- Area,  509  square  miles,  or  325,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  326,910  acres. 
Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  $12,452,622.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.25.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  81.25;  assessed  at  $640,116.  County  property,  $115,000. 
County  debt,  $273,100.  Number  of  schools,  48.  Number  of  school  children  between  5 
and  17  years,  2,434.    School  money,  $54,381  41.    Population  by  census  of  1890,  12,613. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — San  Rafael,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population 
of  3,891.  It  has  many  fine  buildings,  public  and  private,  elegant  hotels,  banks,  two  news- 
papers, five  churches,  schools,  electric  lights,  and  a  perfect  sewerage  system,  etc.  It  is  a 
noted  place  of  residence  for  San  Francisco  business  men,  and  its  hotels  are  a  favorite 
resort  for  invalids  and  tourists.  Its  climate  is  regarded  as  very  favorable  for  those  with 
pulmonary  complaints.  Its  private  dwellings  are  elegant  and  its  drives  most  beautiful 
and  romantic.  The  road  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Tamalpais,  at  an  elevation  of  2,608 
feet,  is  a  continuous  and  easy  grade.  San  Rafael,  in  its  sheltered  valley,  is  secure  from 
ocean  fogs  and  winds.  It  is  in  constant  communication  with  San  Francisco  by  rail  and 
ferry  at  Point  Tiburon. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES.  37 

Sausalito  is  also  a  favorite  place  of  residence  for  San  Francisco  business  men,  possess- 
ng  features  similar  to  San  Rafael.  Novate  is  the  center  of  the  fruit  district  of  the 
iounty;  Point  Keyes  of  the  dairy  interests. 

Other  places  of  note  are  Mill  Valley,  with  its  large  virgin  grove  of  redwoods;  Camp 
raylor,  a  noted  resort  for  campers;  Tomales,  Belvidere,  and  Larkspur.  Bolinas  is  a 
lelightful  watering  place,  on  Bolinas  Bay,  reached  by  stage  from  San  Rafael,  or  from 
learer  points  on  the  North  Pacific  Coast  Railroad.  With  railroad  connection  and 
)roper  advertisement,  it  would  become  noted,  as  its  beach  and  surf  bathing  are  equal 
o  Santa  Cruz,  and  its  climate  delightful  and  invigorating. 

At  San  Quentin  is  located  the  largest  of  the  two  California  State  Prisons.  It  is 
ituated  on  San  Francisco  Bay,  about  12  miles  north  of  San  Francisco,  with  which  it  is 
onnected  by  ferry. 

Topography.— The  county  is  traversed  by  a  range  of  hills,  a  spur  of  the  Coast  Range, 
rom  northeast  to  southwest,  the  highest  part  of  which  is  ]Mount  Tamalpais,  2,608  feet, 
ts  surface  is  broken  and  irregular,  and  numerous  suaall  valleys  intervene.  The  ocean 
oast  is  abrupt  and  rugged,  and  indented  by  bays,  such  as  Bolinas,  Drakes,  Bodega, 
?omales,  Limantour,  and  Richardsons,  from  which  much  shipping  is  done  by  coasting 
essels.  The  shores  along  the  bay  have  in  many  places  much  marsh  land  of  great 
ertility.  A  heavy  body  of  timber  extends  from  the  head  of  Tomales  Bay  along  the 
astern  slope  of  Olema  Valley,  and  between  Olema  and  San  Rafael  is  a  magnificent 
lody  of  virgin  redwood  timber.  Over  the  entire  area  are  scattering  oaks  and  other 
imber,  furnishing  abundant  fuel. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  Marin  County  varies  from  the  rich  adobe  of  the  salt  marshes  to 
he  sharp,  gravelly  loam  of  the  higher  foothills.  In  the  small  valleys  is  a  heavy  black 
Dam,  with  gravelly  admixture.  In  the  foothills  is  a  reddish  loam.  All  of  these  are 
asily  worked  and  heavily  charged  with  plant  food,  as  the  results  of  cultivation  show. 

Climate.— West  of  the  hills  and  on  the  ocean  frontage  the  climate  is  foggy,  moist, 
nd  windy,  with  much  disagreeable  weather.  On  the  east  of  the  Coast  Range  and  skirt- 
ng  San  Francisco  Bay  an  entirely  different  climate  prevails,  sheltered  from  winds, 
aild,  genial,  and  sunshiny.  In  a  word,  this  inland  climate  is  unsurpassed  in  the  State, 
laving  very  little  variation  of  temperature,  dry  air,  no  winds  during  nine  months  of 
be  year,  and  but  little  during  the  other  three- March,  April,  and  Maj'.  Average 
nnual  rainfall  at  Point  Reyes,  17.56;  Point  Bonito,  25.39;  San  Rafael,  39.58.  In  July 
nd  August,  no  rain;  in  June,  .47  of  an  inch;  in  September,  .39  of  an  inch.  Most  of  the 
ain  falls  from  November  to  April.  Mean  summer  temperature  of  San  Rafael,  76°  for 
une,  July,  August,  and  September;  for  the  other  eight  months,  61°. 

Agriculture,  Dairying,  and  Stock  Raising.— Very  little  attention  is  paid  to  agricult- 
re,  with  the  exception  that  an  immense  amount  of  vegetables  is  shipped  from  the 
jwlands  of  tlie  county.  The  county  is  mainly  devoted  to  dairying.  Its  shipments  of 
utter  are  enormous,  being  from  600,000  to  800,000  pounds  annually,  and  the  quality  of 
tie  product  is  too  well  known  to  require  comment.  Most  of  the  large  ranches  are 
tocked  by  the  owners,  and  divided  into  tracts,  which  are  leased  by  them  at  annual 
^ntals,  according  to  the  number  of  cows,  the  usual  charge  being  .$25  to  $30  a  head  per 
nnum.  This  system  has  prevented  the  subdivision  of  the  land  and  retarded  popula- 
on.  The  Assessor's  report  shows  2,553  horses,  33,519  cattle  (of  which  26,104  are  cows), 
127  hogs,  245  sheep,  and  2,570  dozen  poultry. 

Horticulture.— The  principal  fruit  district  is  around  Novate.  The  cliief  product  of 
lis  section  is  apples.  There  are  reported  777  acres  in  fruit,  of  which  636  are  bearing 
nd  141  not  bearing;  of  this  total  486  acres  are  in  apples.  The  apples  raised  here  are  of 
rst  quality,  the  bulk  of  them,  selected,  being  shipped  to  Australia,  where  their  repu- 
ition  is  established,  and  they  bring  a  high  price.  The  Novato  Ranch  orchard,  of  250 
cres,  contains  22,000  apple  trees,  2,000  apricots,  3,500  pears,  and  the  balance  mixed  fruits, 
his  orchard,  first  planted  in  1857,  has  been  in  steady  and  profitable  bearing  ever  since, 
he  canning  fruits  of  this  section  are  shipped  to  the  Petaluma  cannery;  the  culled  apples 
lade  into  cider  and  vinegar.  Ax>ricots  in  this  section  ripen  very  late.  These  results 
tiow  what  could  be  done  in  this  county  were  the  lands  suited  to  fruit  culture  sub- 
ivided  and  more  attention  given  to  the  industrj'. 

Timber. — Much  timber  has  been  cut  from  the  sections  described  above  under  the 
ead  of  "Topography,"  but  a  large  area  is  yet  untouched  by  the  woodman's  ax. 


38  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES. 

Transportation.— Two  lines  of  railroad  traverse  this  county— the  North  Pacific 
Coast,  with  terminus  at  Sausalito  and  the  San  Francisco  and  North  Pacific,  with  a 
terminus  at  Point  Tiburon. 

MARIPOSA. 

Mariposa  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tuolumne  County,  east  by  Mono,  south 
by  Fresno,  and  west  by  Merced  and  Stanislaus. 

Statistics. — Area,  1,543  square  miles,  or  988,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
500,000  acres,  principally  mountainous.  Lands  assessed,  335,453  acres.  Total  assessed 
value  of  all  property,  .$1,897,705.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  2.40.  County  prop- 
erty, $37,000.  County  debt,  none.  Number  of  schools,  38.  Number  of  school  children 
between  5  and  17  years,  991.    School  money,  $16,711  82.    Population,  census  of  1890,  3,817. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Mariposa,  the  county  seat,  is  well  built  and 
provided  with  churches,  schools,  hotels,  substantial  county  buildings  and  business 
houses,  and  the  only  newspaper  in  the  countj'.  Hornitos  and  Coulterville  are  mining 
towns.  The  absence  of  railroads  retards  development  in  the  county,  and  these  towns 
are  not  growing. 

Topography. — Mariposa  begins  on  the  west  in  treeless  plains,  has  an  altitude  of  300 
feet  above  sea-level,  and  passes  up  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  on  the  east,  with  an  altitude 
of  13,000  feet.  The  highest  peak  is  Mount  Dana,  13,227  feet.  The  general  topography 
resembles  that  of  Amador,  Calaveras,  and  El  Dorado  Counties.  There  are  about  300,000 
acres  of  plains  and  lower  foothills  together,  the  latter  predominating,  and  the  balance 
consists  of  high  hills  and  mountains;  bare  of  timber  on  the  plains,  then  scattering  oak 
and  scrub  pines,  then  rising  to  immense  tracts  of  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce, 
and  cedar,  and  the  giant  sequoias  of  ]\Iariposa  Big  Tree  Grove,  which  contains  some 
427  trees,  some  of  35  feet  diameter,  and  150  to  300  feet  high.  The  county  is  well  provided 
with  natural  water  in  the  Merced,  Mariposa,  and  Chow  Chilla  Rivers,  fed  from  perpetual 
snows.  The  famous  Yosemite  Valley  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  county,  at  an 
elevation  of  4,060  feet,  with  walls  5,000  feet  higher.  The  IMerced  River  flows  through 
the  valley.  This  famous  valley  has  been  too  often  and  too  graphically  described  to  need 
detailed  notice  here. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  the  plains  and  valleys  is  black  alluvium,  and  in  the  lower  foothills 
sharp,  red  admixture  of  adobe  and  gravel,  all  easily  cultivated  and  good  for  grain  and 
fruits. 

Climate. — The  climate  does  not  differ  from  that  of  Amador  and  Calaveras.  Hot  in 
the  summer  in  the  plains  and  lower  foothills,  and  bracing  and  invigorating  in  the 
mountains.  In  winter  it  is  delightful  in  the  lower  altitudes,  while  uninterrupted  arctic 
weather  prevails  in  the  high  mountains,  with  abundant  and  lasting  snows. 

Irrigation.- Irrigation  is  practiced  to  some  extent,  water  being  taken  from  streams 
and  mining  ditches  by  private  parties,  and  used  with  good  results.  There  are  116  miles 
of  irrigating  and  mining  ditches,  assessed  at  $6,420. 

Agriculture  and  Stock  Raising.— The  county,  outside  of  mining,  is  mostly  devoted 
to  grazing  and  stock  raising,  not  much  grain  being  raised.  The  cattle  and  sheep  are 
ranged  in  the  mountains  in  the  short  summer  and  in  the  valleys  and  plains  during  the 
winter.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  1,902  horses,  390  mules,  32,110  sheep  and 
lambs,  7,164  cattle,  and  2,060  hogs. 

Horticulture. — The  capacities  for  fruit  culture  are  precisely  similar  in  range  and 
quality  to  Amador  and  El  Dorado  Counties,  remoteness  from  the  market  retarding 
development.  All  fruits  grow  finely,  the  orange,  lemon,  fig,  olive,  apricot,  almond  and 
walnut,  peach,  pear,  plum,  prune,  and  cherry  in  the  lower  foothills  and  protected  val- 
leys, the  grape  abundantly  through  the  wider  range,  and  the  apple,  of  very  fine  qualitj', 
in  the  higher  altitudes.  At  Coulterville  there  is  one  orchard  of  140  acres  recently 
planted,  not  yet  bearing,  but  doing  finely.  Coulterville,  Jerseydale,  Darrah,  and  Grant 
Springs  are  the  principal  fruit  districts.  They  are  capable  of  vast  extension.  In  1891 
the  output  reported  was:  apples,  2,000  boxes;  pears,  500  boxes;  other  fruits  not  reported. 
The  total  acreage  in  fruit  is  564,  of  which  415  are  bearing  and  149  not  bearing,  and  in  the 
following  order  of  fruits:  grapes,  apples,  pears,  oranges,  apricots,  olives,  figs,  almonds, 
peaches,  prunes,  cherries,  walnuts.  All  that  this  interest  needs  for  its  full  development 
is  what  the  other  interests  of  this  county  need,  railroads. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES.  39 

Timber. — The  timber  resources  of  this  county  are  practically  inexhaustible,  only 
needing  transportation  for  development.  There  are  twelve  saw  mills  working  on  local 
demands. 

Mining. — In  former  days  Mariposa  has  yielded  immensely  in  gold  from  its  rich 
plains.  The  county  is  seamed  with  quartz  veins  and  only  needs  cheap  freights  to  stimu- 
late further  developments.  The  Mother  Lode  runs  through  this  county.  The  quality 
of  the  ores  is  mainly  like  that  of  Amador  County.  Some  of  the  principal  mines  are  as 
follows:  Bear  Valley,  Daisy,  Sebastopol,  Farmer's  Hope,  Hayseed,  Peregoy  and  Ileiser, 
and  the  mines  of  the  Mariposa  estate,  the  Princeton,  Josephine,  and  Pine  Tree.  The 
Princeton  has  yielded  over  |3,000,000.  Much  prospecting  is  being  done  about  Mari- 
posa, which,  at  least,  results  in  wage  making.  In  the  northwest  part  of  the  county,  the 
Red  Cloud  and  Sutherland  are  worked  steadily  and  profitably.  The  general  run  of 
ores  yield  from  .$10  to  |15  per  ton,  though  numerous  pockets  are  struck  here  and  there 
running  up  into  the  hundreds  per  ton.  There  are  several  fine  veins  of  good  marble 
in  the  county.    Silver  and  copper  are  also  found. 

Health  and  Tourist  Resorts.— It  is  needless  to  mention  the  Yosemite  Valley,  world 
renowned,  and  the  Mariposa  Big  Trees.  The  mountain  streams  abound  in  trout,  the 
forests  in  game,  and  the  resinous  air  of  the  pine-clad  hills  gives  renewed  health  and 
delight  in  living. 

Prices  of  Land.— The  county  is  taking  a  new  start  this  year.  Agricultural  or  fruit 
lands  range  from  $7  to  $35  an  acre. 

MENDOCINO. 

Mendocino  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Humboldt  and  Trinity,  east  by 
Tehama,  Glenn,  and  Lake,  south  by  Sonoma  County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics. — Area,  3,816  square  miles,  or  2,442,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
1,000,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,302,066  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$12,208,057.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.50.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  30.80; 
assessed  at  $327,126.  County  property,  $82,700.  County  debt,  $112,000.  Number  of 
schools,  93.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,505.  School  money,  $92,949  20. 
Population,  by  census  of  1890,  17,573. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Ukiah,  the  county  seat,  population  about  2,000, 
is  located  in  Ukiah  Valley,  113  miles  from  San  Francisco  by  rail,  and  700  feet  above  sea- 
level.  It  is  incorporated,  has  two  banks,  fine  hotels,  six  churches,  schools,  and  elegant 
private  residences.  It  is  the  principal  business  town  of  the  county.  The  Branch  State 
Insane  Asylum,  near  here,  is  about  completed.  Other  interior  towns  are  Hopland, 
Laytonville  in  Long  Valley,  Cahto,  Willits,  etc.  On  the  coast  is  Mendocino  City,  popu- 
lation 900,  with  two  banks,  two  newspapers,  churches,  schools,  hotels,  and  public 
buildings;  Fort  Bragg,  population  1,100,  with  bank  and  building  and  loan  association; 
Greenwood,  population  700;  Point  Arena,  population  800,  famous  for  butter  and  cheese 
shipments;  Westport,  population  600;  Gualala,  ISIanchester,  Navarro,  Whitesboro, 
Albion,  Little  River,  Caspar,  Soyo,  Cleone,  Rockport,  and  Usal,  each  from  100  to  300 
population.    Cuffey's  Cove  is  noted  for  potato  shipments. 

Topography.— Mendocino  County  is  traversed  bj"^  two  branches  of  the  Coast  Range 
through  nearly  the  central  portion,  from  north  to  south,  from  1,000  to  3,000  feet  altitude. 
The  Eel  River  runs  northerlj'  and  the  Russian  River  southerly  through  the  central 
portion,  with  a  large  number  of  tributaries,  the  dividing  ridge  being  a  little  north  of 
Ukiah.  The  western  range  is  15  miles  from  the  ocean.  This  district  is  intersected  by 
numerous  streams.  In  the  eastern  and  northern  portions  of  the  county  are  many  pro- 
ductive small  valleys,  such  as  Sanel,  Anderson,  Yorkville,  Redwood,  Ukiah,  Potter, 
Little  Lake,  and  Round  Valleys. 

Soils.— The  soils  of  these  valleys  are  variable,  comprising  sandy  loams,  rich  black 
loams,  clay  loams,  light  yellow  clays  mixed  with  coarse  gravel,  and  some  large  bodies  of 
black  gravel,  but  all  of  them  very  fertile  and  productive  for  cereals,  grasses,  and  fruits. 

Climate. — The  climate  varies  with  altitude  and  proximity  to  the  ocean.  On  the 
immediate  coast  heavy  fogs  and  strong  winds  are  common.  During  the  summer  100°  is 
sometimes  reached;  the  mean  is  about  80°  in  summer  and  40°  in  winter.  In  the  interior 
valleys  the  climate  is  warmer  and  less  foggy,  but  owing  to  air  currents  and  elevations 


40  CALIFORNIA    Ax\D     HER     RESOURCES. 

very  diversified.  Sanel,  Ukiah,  Redwood,  and  Potter  Valleys  have  a  similar  climate. 
In  the  absence  of  figures  the  climate  may  be  ascertained  from  the  fact  that  it  is  favor- 
able to  the  growth  of  prunes,  pears,  and  cherries.  The  average  annual  rainfall  at  Ukiah 
is  33.63  inches. 

Agriculture.— Hops,  potatoes,  grain,  hay,  and  alfalfa  are  the  principal  agricultural 
products.  There  are  about  1,000  acres  in  hops,  distributed  as  follows:  Ukiah,  562;  Sanel, 
216;  Redwood,  58;  Round,  47;  Potter,  36;  Yorkville,  26.  The  product  is  first  class.  This 
county  is  second  to  Sacramento  in  hop  production.  Grain  hay  is  very  profitable,  and 
alfalfa  is  grown  successfully,  yielding  three  crops  a  season  without  irrigation.  Wheat 
yields  20  to  30  bushels  to  the  acre;  barley  and  oats,  30  to  35  bushels;  potatoes,  3  to  8  toils. 
Potter  and  Russian  River  Valleys  give  40  to  50  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre.  Cuffey's 
Cove,  on  the  coast,  is  a  great  shipping  point  for  potatoes.  Ukiah  Valley,  in  1891,  shipped 
18,495  bushels  of  wheat,  16,723  bushels  of  barley,  and  4,090  bushels  of  oats.  Italian 
vegetable  gardens  sujjply  Ukiah  and  vicinity. 

Horticulture.— The  principal  fruit  sections  of  Mendocino  are  Sanel,  Ukiah,  Potter, 
Redwood,  Little  Lake,  and  Anderson  Valleys.  Carl  Purdy,  in  "  Republican  Press,"  gives 
the  acreage  in  prunes  at  .340,  and  in  Bartlett  pears,  125,  in  these  valleys.  It  is  conceded 
that  the  prune  does  exceptionally  well.  Small  fruits  do  excellently.  Apricots  do  not 
thrive  in  Mendocino  County.  Apples  are  the  leading  fruit.  Grapes  do  well.  There  is 
a  very  small  acreage  in  table  grapes.  There  are  some  wine  vineyards,  and  considerable 
quantities  of  wine  and  brandy  are  manufactured.  The  entire  Russian  River  Valley  and 
much  of  the  Eel  River  Valley  is  good  fruit  land.  The  fruit  exports  of  1891  were  1,024 
tons,  one  third  being  apples.  Most  of  the  apples  are  shipped  to  the  coast,  and  from 
thence  to  San  Francisco  by  water;  some  to  Ukiah,  and  thence  by  rail.  Total  fruit 
acreage,  1,509 — bearing,  869;  not  bearing,  640. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — Ukiah  Valley  shipped  4,000  bales  of  wool  in  1891, 
valued  at  $150,000.  The  entire  wool  crop  amounted  to  $400,000.  Mendocino  and  Hum- 
boldt wool  is  the  best  in  the  State.  A  great  deal  of  fine  butter  and  cheese  is  made  in 
several  districts,  and  much  of  very  fancy  brand  is  shipped  from  Point  Arena  and  Man- 
chester, on  the  coast,  to  San  Francisco,  where  it  has  an  excellent  reputation.  The 
Assessor's  report  for  1892  gives  7,153  horses,  459  mules,  22,081  cattle,  10,522  hogs,  and 
120,599  sheep. 

Timber.— Mendocino  County  shares  with  Sonoma,  Humboldt,  and  Del  Norte  in  pos- 
sessing the  largest  body  of  redwood  timber  in  the  world.  Mendocino  claims  about 
900,000  acres.  The  standing  timber  is  estimated  at  12,000,000,000  feet;  not  over  5  per 
cent  has  been  cut.  This  timber  belt  extends  through  the  county  from  north  to  south, 
and  averages  15  to  30  miles  in  width. ,  The  timber  is  of  gigantic  size.  Besides  redwood 
there  are  also  large  bodies  of  pine  and  spruce.  There  abounds,  also,  tan-oak,  mountain 
laurel,  and  madrona.  There  are  over  24  saw  mills  in  the  county,  mostly  in  the  coast 
region— at  Gualala,  Garcia,  Point  Arena,  Greenwood,  Navarro,  Albion,  Big  River,  Caspar, 
Noyo,  Fort  Bragg,  Westport,  Coltaneva,  and  Usal.  The  lumber  is  loaded  by  chutes  onto 
steam  and  sail  vessels,  and  shipped  to  San  Francisco  and  other  ports.  The  coast  ship- 
ments for  1891  were:  lumber,  67,063,211  feet;  ties,  603,336;  posts,  123,966;  shakes,  5,133,475. 
The  shipments  for  1892  are  estimated  at  $3,000,000;  the  amount  cut  at  120,000,000  feet. 
Besides  these  coast  shipments,  there  are  operating  saw  mills  in  the  interior,  on  the  Eel  and 
Russian  Rivers,  and  in  other  localities.    Ukiah  shipped  $50,000  worth  of  tan  bark  in  1891. 

Mining.— Throughout  the  county  are  found  limestone,  quicksilver,  coal,  copper,  some 
gold  and  silver,  and  asbestos.  There  are  also  indications  of  oil.  The  coal  dejiosits  are 
the  most  important  and  extensive  as  yet  indicated.  These  indications  run  from  north- 
west to  southeast,  across  the  Sanhedrim  Range  and  the  Middle  Fork  of  Eel  River,  thence 
north  and  west  of  Round  Valley,  and  they  can  be  traced  nearly  100  miles.  The  deposits 
are  from  8  to  20  feet  thick,  and  are  being  exploited.  The  quality  is  lignite,  but  better  than 
any  yet  found  in  the  State.  Very  little  has  been  done  in  other  mining,  though  there 
are  many  well-detined  quartz  ledges,  containing  gold  and  silver  in  small  quantities. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts. — There  are  numerous  mineral  springs,  among  which 
may  be  selected  as  best  known  the  Duncan  Springs,  near  Sanel  Valley;  Orr's  Hot 
Springs,  over  the  divide  between  Russian  and  Big  Rivers,  14  miles  from  Ukiah,  with 
hot  sulphur  waters;  Vichy  Springs,  3  miles  from  Ukiah,  temperature  85°,  much  resorted 
to  for  baths.    All  of  these  are  well  equipped  with  excellent  hotels,  cottages,  baths,  etc. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIER     RESOURCES.  41 

Indian  Reservations. — Round  Valley,  about  60  miles  to  the  northeast  from  TIkiah, 
contains  about  18,000  acres  of  tillable  land  and  the  Indian  reservation,  which  has 
recently  been  thrown  open  for  settlement.  This  valley  is  isolated,  but  it  is  highly  pro- 
ductive, and  contains  a  population  of  900  whites  and  500  Indians. 

Prices  of  Land. — Excellent  lands  can  be  bought  here  for  $25  to  $50  an  acre.  Grazing 
land  throughout  the  county  is  worth  from  $2  50  to  $5  an  acre,  and  good  agricultural  and 
fruit  lands  in  the  different  valleys  above  described  will  range  from  $25  to  $50  an  acre, 
according  to  the  quality,  nearness  to  the  railroad,  and  other  conditions. 

MERCED. 

Merced  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Stanislaus,  east  by  Mariposa,  south  by 
Fresno,  and  west  by  Santa  Clara  and  San  Benito  Counties. 

Statistics. — Area,  1,96S  square  miles,  or  1,259,336  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
50,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,083,736  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  $15,- 
770,660.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.35.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  89.25; 
assessed  at  $1,133,388.  County  property,  .^^84,000.  County  debt,  $128,900.  Number  of 
schools,  46.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,819.  School  money,  $48,552  72. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  8,062. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Merced  City,  the  county  seat,  has  over  2,000 
population.  It  is  located  on  the  Southern  Pacific  east  side  line,  and  is  also  the  junction 
terminus  of  the  road  from  Stockton  running  through  Oakdale  and  La  Grange.  It  has 
five  banks,  three  newspapers,  five  churches,  good  school  buildings,  elegant  Court-house, 
substantial  county  buildings,  and  excellent  hotels.  It  is  the  center  of  the  grain  shipping 
of  the  county,  and  has  substantial  and  large  warehouses.  The  city  water  is  supplied  in 
pipes  from  the  reservoir  belonging  to  the  Crocker-Hoffman  Canal.  It  is  a  healthy  and 
handsome  town. 

Merced  Falls  has  a  woolen  mill.  Snelling,  Atwater,  and  Turlock  are  grain  and  fruit 
producing  and  shipping  centers.  Los  Bafios  is  the  leading  town  on  the  west  side  of 
the  San  Joaquin— on  the  new  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific— where  many  lands  are 
being  subdivided  for  colony  purposes  and  with  promise  of  future  development  and 
prosperity. 

Topography. — Merced  County,  in  about  the  center  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  extends 
from  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra  on  the  east  to  the  summit  of  the  Coast  Range  on  the 
west.  With  the  exception  of  the  high  foothills  near  its  eastern  boundary  and  the  rugged 
steppes,  abrupt  cafions,  small  valleys,  and  sloping  hills  of  the  Coast  Range,  it  is  one 
vast  plain,  intersected  only  by  watercourses.  The  Merced  River  is  the  chief  stream, 
which  rises  in  Mariposa,  cuts  through  Yosemite  Valley,  and  flows  westward  to  join  the 
San  Joaquin  River,  which  runs  from  south  to  north  through  the  basin  or  trough  of  the 
valley.    Manj-  subordinate  watercourses  abound,  which  are  usually  dry  in  the  summer. 

Soils.— The  soil  varies  with  the  locality.  In  the  southern  and  western  districts 
alluvial  bottom  land,  rich  for  gardens,  alfalfa,  and  grapes.  Nearer  the  footliills  is  found 
a  reddish  adobe  loam,  rich  in  iron,  somewhat  mixed  with  gravel,  and  the  favorite  for 
citrus  fruits  both  from  situation  and  character;  there  is  also  found  light  chocolate  loam 
intervening  and  near  the  hills,  equally  good  for  oranges  and  olives.  Very  light,  sandy 
loam  is  found  widely  distributed  over  the  plains,  which  rec^uires  much  water  to  produce 
good  results.    There  is  very  little  waste  land  in  the  county. 

Climate. — The  climate  closely  resembles  that  of  Fresno  County.  The  coldest  extreme 
of  winter  is  never  below  25",  and  the  hottest  of  midsummer  not  over  108°.  There  are 
nine  months  of  mild,  genial,  healthful  weather.  The  average  annual  rainfall  for  the 
past  four  years  is  13.52  inches.  The  same  extreme  dryness  of  air  prevails  as  in  all  the 
San  Joaquin  Valley. 

Irrigation. — Extensive  systems  of  irrigation  are  in  use  and  extend  through  the 
county.  The  leading  one,  with  50  miles  of  canal  and  150  miles  of  laterals  and  a  large 
reservoir,  is  intended  to  cover  600,000  acres.  Others  cover,  respectively,  50,000  acres 
and  30,000  acres.  Water  charges  per  acre,  from  these  sources  of  supply,  are  reasonable, 
as  in  Fresno  County.  Artesian  flowing  water  is  struck  in  the  southern  and  western 
sections  of  the  county  at  100  to  200  feet  on  the  east  side,  and  200  to  400  feet  on  the  west 
side  of  the  San  Joaquin. 


42  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Agriculture.— It  is  difficult  to  secure  segregated  figures  of  the  grain  production  of  the 
different  counties  of  California,  but  it  appears  that  in  this  valley  San  Joaquin  County  is 
first,  Stanislaus  second,  Tulare  third,  and  Merced  fourth,  in  cereal  products.  The  prin- 
cipal centers  are  Merced,  Atwater,  and  Turlock,  where  there  are  large  storage  and  ship- 
ping warehouses.  Alfalfa  grows  five  crops  a  year,  with  water,  and  cuts  from  7  to  8  tons 
per  acre  in  the  aggregate.  With  irrigation  these  soils  all  produce  abundantly  of 
vegetables  and  fruits.  All  that  this  county  needs  is  more  settlement  and  energetic 
development. 

Horticulture.— The  principal  fruit  centers  are  Merced,  Snelling,  Merced  Falls,  Atwater, 
and  Turlock.  There  are  a  number  of  important  colonies  here,  especially  of  Hollanders, 
and  they  are  all  prosperous.  They  are  principally  engaged  in  vineyard  and  orchard 
planting.  The  soil  and  climate  adaptation  to  deciduous  and  citrus  fruits  is  as  fine  as 
any  in  the  State.  Oranges,  though  they  grow  well  around  ]\Ierced  and  in  other  parts 
of  the  plains,  do  especially  well  in  the  thermal  belt  of  the  foothills.  Olives  are  being 
extensively  planted  and  thrive  wonderfully.  Lemons  grow  to  perfection;  of  which 
there  is  a  successful  grove  of  Villa  Francas  near  Merced.  The  acreage  in  fruit  trees  and 
vines  is  2,965,  of  which  1,956  are  bearing  and  1,009  not  bearing.  They  range  in  impor- 
tance as  follows:  grapes  for  table  and  raisin,  peaches,  olives,  figs,  prunes,  plums,  pears, 
almonds,  oranges,  apricots,  and  apples.  Not  much  outside  shipping  is  done  as  yet,  but 
there  are  immense  future  possibilities. 

Stock  Raising. — Though  Merced  is  not  a  dairy  county,  there  is  a  large  amount  of 
cattle  and  sheep  raised.  The  foothills  and  the  low  places  of  the  watercourses  in  the 
valley  are  favorable  to  their  fattening.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  9,356  horses, 
3,194  mules,  25,865  cattle,  6,496  hogs,  134,523  sheep,  and  2,321  dozen  poultry.  When  the 
West  Side  irrigation  schemes  are  perfected  and  the  systems  for  proper  utilization  of  the 
soil  are  put  in  practice,  as  they  should  be,  the  stock  production  of  cattle,  hogs,  and  sheep 
could  be  quadrupled.  The  lands  should  be  divided,  watered,  and  the  crops  diversified, 
to  give  the  best  results. 

Timber.— Merced  is  shut  off  from  the  big  timber  supply  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  by 
Mariposa  on  the  east,  but  when  this  large  field  is  opened  up  the  product  must  be  handled 
either  by  flume  or  rail  through  Merced  to  the  main  line  in  the  valley,  and  Merced  will 
have  the  advantage  of  it. 

Mining.— The  same  may  be  said  of  the  mines.  They  lie  in  Mariposa  County,  but 
access  to  them  must  be  had  through  Merced.  There  are  indications  of  lignite,  asphal- 
tum,  and  coal  oil  in  the  Coast  Range. 

Prices  of  Land. — The  prices  range  from  $10  to  $100  per  acre.  Immigration  and  devel- 
opment will  demonstrate  the  great  wealth  of  this  county.  That  it  is  not  far  behind  in 
the  race,  its  present  assessment  roll  clearly  indicates. 

MODOC. 

Modoc  County  is  bounded  north  by  State  of  Oregon,  east  by  State  of  Nevada,  south  by 
Lassen,  and  west  by  Siskiyou  County. 

Statistics. — Area,  4,296  square  miles,  or  2,750,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  328,791.19  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $3,295,682.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1..55.  County  property,  $8,000.  County  debt,  $869  06.  Number  of  schools,  35.  School 
children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,349.  School  money,  $25,294  77.  Population,  census  of 
1890,  4,986. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Alturas,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of  600. 
Other  towns  are  Cedarville  and  Fort  Bidwell,  in  Surprise  Valley,  400  population  each; 
Adin,  in  Big  Valley,  400  population;  Lake  City,  Lakeview,  Eagleville,  Willow  Ranch,  Pine 
Creek.  The  county  seat  lias  good  county  buildings,  two  churches,  two  newspapers,  six 
stores,  two  hotels,  and  schools. 

Topography.— Of  the  total  area  of  the  county,  1,500,000  acres  is  mountainous  land,  and 
1,250,000  acres  valleys,  plateaus,  and  lakes.  The  elevation  of  the  valley  lands  ranges  from 
4,000  to  5,000  feet  above  sea-level,  and  some  of  the  mountains  are  7,500  feet.  Warner 
range  of  mountains  runs  north  and  south  through  the  eastern  part,  on  the  western  slope 
of  which  are  Goose  Lake,  Hot  Springs,  and  smaller  valleys.  Big,  or  Round  Valley,  is 
about  30  miles  by  15;  Surprise  Valley  is  60  miles  by  15,  and  contains  three  good  size 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  43 

lakes;  Goose  Lake  is  50  miles  by  10.  The  lava  beds  are  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county,  full  of  crevasses  and  caverns,  and  fit  only  for  grazing.  Pitt  River  drains  the 
valley  lands  and  empties  into  the  upper  Sacramento  lliver.  Numerous  lakes  are  dis- 
tributed throughout  these  valleys. 

Soils. — Surprise  Valley  is  a  rich,  black  loam.  Goose  Lake  Valley  is  covered  with  bunch 
grass;  Round  Valley  varies  from  red  to  dark  loam,  with  some  rich  bottom  land  on  creeks. 
The  foothill  bunch  grass  land  is  easily  worked,  generall.v  sandy  loam  with  patches  of 
adobe,  and  is  mainly  of  volcanic  origin,  tufa  and  lava;  good  soil  when  irrigated. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  that  of  the  temperate  zone  east,  though  milder  in  winter; 
occasionally  zero  in  winter  and  100°  in  summer.  Snowfalls  vary  from  15  inches  in  val- 
ley, to  10  to  15  feet  in  mountains.  Snow  soon  leaves  the  valley  lands.  Average  rainfall, 
Fort  Babbitt,  ll.SO  inches;  Fort  Bidwell,  20.06  inches. 

Irrigation.— Irrigation  is  necessary  for  fruits  and  vegetables,  but  is  seldom  resorted 
to,  owing  to  sparseness  of  population  and  remoteness  horn  market.  The  county  is  well 
watered.    Drinking  water  is  from  wells,  varying  from  6  to  30  feet  deep. 

Agriculture.— The  county  could  produce  abundantly  the  cereals,  alfalfa,  and  timothy. 
Much  of  the  latter  is  raised.    Grain  yields  from  20  to  25  bushels  to  the  acre. 

Horticulture.— No  fruits  are  raised  except  for  family  use.  Surprise  Valley  produces 
apples,  peaches,  pears,  cherries,  and  small  fruits.  There  would  be  no  difficulty  in  increas- 
ing the  product  with  profit,  if  markets  were  accessible.  The  fruit  acreage  is  280,  of  which 
210  are  in  apples.    Fruit  yield  in  1892,  about  33  tons. 

Stock.— Stock  is  the  leading  industry.  The  Assessor's  report  shows  12,306  horses,  533 
mules,  10,374  sheep,  3,559  hogs,  and  45,699  cattle. 

Timber. — Pine  and  cedar  are  in  great  quantities  on  Warner  range. 

Prices  of  Land. — Cultivated  lands  sell  at  from  $5  to  $15  an  acre.  Railroads  would 
change  the  face  of  this  entire  section. 

MONO. 

Mono  County  is  bounded  northwest  by  Alpine,  west  by  Tuolumne,  Mariposa,  and 
Fresno,  south  by  Inyo  County,  and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada. 

Statistics. — Area,  2,796  square  miles,  or  1,789,440  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
900,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  110,418  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  $908,971. 
Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  2.25.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  33.37;  assessed 
at  $71,317.  County  property,  $30,500.  County  debt,  $15,000.  Number  of  schools,  9. 
School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  306.  School  money,  $8,818  71.  Population, 
census  of  1890,  2,016. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Bridgeport  is  the  county  seat;  population,  700. 
Bodie,  population  202,  and  Benton  are  other  towns.  Bodie  was  once  the  scene  of  a 
large  and  active  population  in  early  mining  days.  It  is  the  highest  town  in  the  United 
States— at  9,000  feet  elevation. 

Topography,  Soil,  etc. — Mono  is  mainly  volcanic.  It  is  a  mixture  of  rugged  mount- 
ains, alkali  tlats,  and  dead  sea  waters.  The  Sierra,  on  the  west,  reaches  an  altitude  of 
13,000  feet  in  Mounts  Dana,  Lyell,  and  Castle  Peak.  The  White  and  Inyo  Mountains 
traverse  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  Mono  Lake,  of  unusually  strong  chemical 
waters,  10  miles  wide  by  15  miles  long,  is  in  the  center  of  the  county.  In  the  south  are 
the  headwaters  of  Owens  River.  The  north  is  scantily  watered  by  the  forks  of  Walker 
River.  The  only  lands  for  tillage  are  found  in  the  valleys  on  the  western  sloi)e,  small 
alluvi^il  tracts  on  Owens  and  Walker  Rivers  and  on  streams  emptying  into  Mono  Lake. 
Several  thousand  acres  might  jjroduce  by  irrigating.  These  lands,  5,000  to  6,000  feet  above 
the  sea,  are  too  high  for  cereals  and  fruit  to  any  extent.    Fruit  trees  do  not  flourish. 

Agriculture  and  Stock.— Agriculture  is  not  carried  on  to  any  extent.  There  are 
only  11  acres  in  fruit,  and  no  new  plantings.  The  stock  reports  of  the  Assessor  show 
1,771  horses,  129  mule.s,  5,841  cattle,  165  hogs,  21,038  sheep,  and  256  goats. 

Timber. — There  are  large  quantities  of  pine  and  tamarack,  but  no  developments  are 
made  of  these  resources,  on  account  of  lack  of  transportation  and  market. 

Mining. — Bodie  was  the  scene  of  great  activity  in  old  mining  times,  and  about 
$20,000,000  was  turned  out  of  the  mines;  but  its  glory  has  departed.  Some  silver  veins 
are  yet  worked,  the  annual  output  being  about  $500,000.  The  Carson  and  Colorado  Rail- 
road from  Reno,  Nevada,  gives  access  to  this  county  from  the  north. 


44  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

MONTEREY. 

Monterey  County  is  bounded  north  by  Monterey  Bay  and  Santa  Cruz,  east  by  San 
Benito,  Fresno,  and  Tulare,  south  by  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics. — Area,  3,328  square  miles,  or  2,129,920  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,109,394  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all 
property,  |18,268,789.  Eate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.25.  Number  of  miles  of  rail- 
road, 141.61;  assessed  at  $1,341,922.  County  property,  $87,000.  County  debt,  $170,000. 
Number  of  schools,  124.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,986.  School  money, 
$126,972  64.     Population,  census  of  1890,  18,658. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Salinas  City,  the  county  seat,  has  2,327  popula- 
tion, banks,  hotels,  fine  business  blocks,  warehouse,  mills,  newspapers,  schools,  and 
churches.  It  is  lighted  by  electricity,  and  provided  with  modern  improvements.  Mon- 
terey has  started  up  the  past  year  and  built  a  new  bank,  fine  school  house,  and  made 
other  improvements.  Pacific  Grove  has  built  300  dwellings  and  other  buildings.  Mon- 
terey, Pacific  Grove,  and  Del  Monte  Hotel  are  connected  by  street  railway,  which  will 
soon  apply  electric  power.  Other  thriving  towns  in  the  interior  valley  are  King  City, 
in  a  rich  grain  center,  with  a  flour  mill  of  700  barrels  capacity;  Castroville,  Chualar, 
Gonzales,  Soledad,  Bradley,  and  San  Ardo. 

Transportation. — The  Salinas  Valley  is  traversed  by  the  Southern  Pacific  system, 
with  its  branches  to  Monterey  and  Santa  Cruz,  and  the  main  line  will,  when  complete 
junction  is  made  through  the  Santa  Margarita  range,  become  the  main  transit  route  to 
Los  Angeles  and  Santa  Barbara.  A  line  is  now  projected,  and  will  soon  be  built,  from 
this  county  across  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  to  Fresno. 

Topography.— The  Santa  Lucia  range,  rugged  and  reaching  5,000  feet  altitude,  trav- 
erses the  entire  western  part  of  the  county  from  north  to  south,  and  is  about  20  miles 
wide.  The  Gabilan  range,  less  lofty  and  more  sloping,  occupies  the  eastern  portion, 
with  the  large  Salinas  Valley  between  the  two,  which  is  75  miles  long  and  10  miles  wide, 
and  is  traversed  by  the  Salinas  Eiver,  flowing  northwesterly  into  the  Pacific  Ocean  at 
Monterey.  There  are  numerous  tributaries  to  the  Salinas.  The  Pajaro  River  is  on  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  county.  Many  small  fertile  valleys  also  exist,  like  Pajaro, 
Carmel,  Carneros,  and  San  Miguel  Canons. 

Soils. — The  main  640,000  acres  of  tillable  lands  lie  in  the  Salinas  Valley.  The  soil 
along  the  rivers  is  black  adobe  alluvium,  very  rich;  back  of  that,  more  sandy  loam,  very 
deep  and  easily  worked;  then  table  lands,  excellent  for  cereals;  and  lastly,  the  uplands. 
These  are  all  highly  productive. 

Climate.— The  climate  is  very  equable  and  delightful.  At  Salinas  City  five  years' 
observations  show  summer  extreme  temperature,  88°;  winter  extreme,  29°;  summer 
mean,  60°;  winter  mean,  49°.  No  more  healthful  climate  can  be  found.  The  annual  rain- 
fall is  between  12  and  13  inches.  Monterey  and  Pacific  Grove  are  genial  and  enjoyable 
the  entire  year. 

Irrigation. — No  irrigation  by  ditch  system  is  practiced,  wells  and  windmills  being 
used  when  irrigation  is  required. 

Agriculture.— The  Salinas  Valley  is  noted  for  its  great  yield  of  wheat,  barley,  and 
oats,  averaging  from  40  to  60  bushels  an  acre.  Vegetables  reach  enormous  size  and 
great  perfection.  The  Burbank  seedling  potatoes  of  this  section  equal  the  Oregon 
product,  and  bring  top  prices  in  the  San  Francisco  market.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to 
hops,  beans,  sweet  potatoes,  tomatoes,  sugar  beets,  and  many  other  products. 

Horticulture. — The  principal  fruit  section  is  in  the  Salinas  Valley,  Many  acres  of 
vineyard  produce  the  finest  table  and  wine  grapes.  The  orchards  are  very  prolific,  the 
leading  acreage  being  in  prunes,  then  apricots,  apples,  peaches,  pears,  plums,  cherries, 
and  almonds.  Olives  will  thrive  as  well  as  on  the  Mediterranean,  though  no  extensive 
plantings  have  been  made.  There  are  no  local  canneries,  and  a  long  and  expensive  haul 
to  market  has  prevented  extensive  shipments.  There  are  2,466  acres  of  fruit  trees,  of 
which  1,580  are  bearing  and  886  not  bearing. 

Stock.— The  large  area  of  sloping  hills  of  this  county  affords  fine  range  for  stock, 
and  much  capital  is  invested  in  this  interest,  mainly  in  cattle.  The  Assessor's  report 
shows  12,963  horses,  185,257  cattle,  9,477  hogs,  346  mules,  16,619  sheep,  1,805  goats,  and 
2,448  dozen  poultry. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  45 

Timber. — A  large  area  of  redwood  exists  near  tlie  coast,  also  tracts  of  yellow  pine. 
Oak  timber  is  scattered  over  the  hills  and  mountains  and  is  abundant  for  fuel. 

Minerals.— Gold  and  silver  are  found  in  some  canons,  but  not  yet  much  developed 
in  paj'ing  quantities.  The  Los  Burros,  in  the  southwest,  are  becoming  prominent  in 
development.  In  Cholame  Valley,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  are  deposits  of 
asphaltum,  copper,  gypsum,  and  black  oxide  of  manganese.  Petroleum  indications  are 
very  extensive.  Lignite  coal  of  good  quality  abounds,  and  mines  have  been  opened  at 
Carmelito.  Glass  sand  is  inexhaustible  on  the  beach  near  :Monterey,  and  large  ship- 
ments are  made  to  San  Francisco. 

Fishing.— Monterey  Bay  contains  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  species  of  food  fish, 
and  many  are  annually  taken  for  market.  There  is  a  whaling  company  at  Monterey, 
and  some  seasons  as  many  as  forty  whales  are  captured. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.— Hotel  Del  Monte,  near  Monterey,  is  too  widely  known 
to  require  a  detailed  description.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  watering  places  in  the  world, 
open  the  year  round,  with  magnificent  buildings  to  accommodate  about  one  thousand 
guests;  it  is  surrounded  by  immense  groves,  with  126  acres  of  garden,  shrubbery,  lawn, 
and  flowers,  in  close  proximity  to  the  ocean,  and  provided  with  every  comfort  and 
means  of  enjoyment. 

Pacific  Grove,  near  by,  and  connected  by  car  lines  with  Del  Monte  and  Monterey, 
has  some  ten  thousand  ^^sito^s  every  season,  and  is  a  city  among  the  pines,  with  8  miles 
of  paved  and  graded  streets,  elegant  villas  and  cottages,  and  every  convenience  for 
comfort  and  enjoyment. 

Prices  of  Land.— The  settler  who  cannot  find  some  place  to  suit  his  requirements 
within  the  boundaries  of  IMonterey  County  must  indeed  be  hard  to  please.  He  can 
secure  the  most  fertile  soil  and  a  faultless  climate  on  the  most  reasonable  terms.  In 
the  southern  part  of  the  count j'^  are  many  cheap  lands. 

NAPA. 

Napa  County  is  bounded  north  by  Lake  and  Yolo,  east  by  Yolo  and  Solano,  south  by 
Solano,  San  Pablo  Bay,  and  Sonoma,  and  west  by  Sonoma  County. 

Statistics.— Area,  789  square  miles,  or  504,960  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
25,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  411,378  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$14,721,017.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.30.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  47.43; 
assessed  at  $780,55L  County  property,  $130,000.  County  debt,  $96,000.  Number  of  schools, 
52.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  3,604.'  School  money,  $74,756  63.  Population, 
census  of  1890,  16,304. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Napa  City,  the  county  seat,  has  5,000  population. 
It  is  located  on  Napa  River,  at  the  head  of  navigation,  45  miles  from  San  Francisco, 
with  which  it  is  connected  by  rail.  There  are  nine  churches,  two  banks,  college  and 
schools,  three  newspapers,  tanneries,  flour  mills,  cream  tartar  factories,  cannery,  fruit 
drier,  brandy  distilleries,  wineries,  etc. 

St.  Helena,  population  1,705,  has  many  fine  business  blocks,  excellent  and  popular 
hotels,  eight  churches,  three  banks,  two  newspapers,  and  many  large  wineries,  one  with 
a  capacity  of  over  3,000,000  gallons. 

Calistoga,  at  the  head  of  the  valley,  and  the  terminus  of  the  railroad,  is  surrounded 
by  fine  vineyards.  Other  towns  are  Oakville,  Yountville,  Rutherford,  Monticello,  and 
Knoxville,  all  centers  of  prosperous  farms,  orchards,  and  vineyards. 

Topography.— The  county  is  45  miles  long  and  15  wide.  Through  the  centel",  from 
north  to  south,  runs  the  Napa  Valley,  from  Mount  St.  Helena,  4,500  feet  high,  at  the 
north,  to  San  Pablo  Bay  at  the  south,  varying  in  width  from  1  to  5  miles.  Browns  Valley 
comes  into  Napa  Valley  on  the  western  side,  northwest  of  Napa  City.  On  each  side, 
east  and  west,  runs  a  chain  of  mountains,  with  sloping  foothills,  numerous  spurs,  and 
intervening  small  valleys,  all  rich  and  productive  and  possessing  a  genial  climate.  Napa 
River  runs  through  the  main  valley  from  north  to  south.  The  two  ranges  unite  in  one 
at  Mount  St.  Helena.  East  of  Napa  City,  across  the  Howell  Mountain  range,  lies  Pope 
Valley,  and  over  a  low  divide,  south  of  the  latter,  Chiles  Valley,  the  two,  jointly,  about 
20  miles  long.  Along  the  east  line  of  the  county  lies  Berryessa  Valley  on  the  eastern 
slope,  20  miles  long.    Other  small  valleys  are  Capelle,  Gordon,  and  Wooden. 


46  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Soils. — There  are  five  classes  of  soils.  That  of  the  mountain,  argillaceous  and  not 
very  productive.  In  Berryessa  and  Chiles  this  is  mixed  with  rich  loam,  and  adapted  to 
cereals.  Adobe  is  found  only  in  spots  in  Berryessa,  Pope,  Chiles,  and  Browns  Valleys. 
Napa  Valley  is  principally  rich  alluvial  loam  adapted  to  all  growths.  From  Napa  City 
southward  and  along  the  bay  is  tule  soil.  Decomposed  volcanic  formation,  like  lava, 
prevails  in  the  vicinity  of  Howell  Mountain,  and  is  excellent  for  grapes.  The  soils  of 
Napa  Valley  extend  well  up  into  the  foothills,  which  are  clothed  in  vines,  and  the  best 
wines  are  produced  on  them. 

Climate. — Napa  climate  is  delightful,  the  thermometer  rarely  higher  than  90°.  In 
winter  frosts  occur  rarely,  except  in  the  valleys,  and  then  doing  little  injury.  In  the 
foothill  thermal  belt  citrus  and  other  sub-tropical  fruits  do  well.  The  rainfall  averages 
between  25  and  31  inches  a  year. 

Agriculture. — The  soils  of  the  valleys  yield  heavily  in  cereals,  and  much  grain  is  raised 
in  various  localities,  especially  in  Pope  and  Berryessa  Valleys.  Any  vegetable  product 
can  be  successfully  raised,  for  which  a  market  can  be  found. 

Horticulture.— The  leading  industry  of  Napa  County  is  grape  growing  for  wines,  but 
all  deciduous  fruits  are  successfully  and  profitably  grown,  and  in  these  rich  soils  are 
very  productive.  There  are  3,260  acres  of  fruit  trees — 1,579  bearing  and  1,681  not  bearing. 
Of  this  acreage,  1,127  are  in  prunes,  845  in  peaches,  261  in  apples,  260  in  cherries,  105  in 
olives,  286  in  pears,  77  in  almonds,  12  in  English  walnuts,  and  the  remainder  scattering. 
The  chief  fruit  sections  are  Calistoga,  Browns  Valley,  Oak  Knoll,  and  St.  Helena;  3,000 
orange  trees  are  planted  near  the  latter  place,  and  are  doing  well.  The  Napa  Valley  is 
particularly  well  adapted  to  the  olive,  and  many  orchardists  are  making  large  ventures 
in  these  trees,  which  dread  equally  excessive  cold  or  hot  weather.  The  shipments  of 
cherries  East  last  season  were  eleven  carloads.  Fruits  are  marketed  green,  dried,  or 
sent  to  the  cannery.    The  prune  will  soon  lead  all  other  green  fruit. 

Viticulture.— The  leading  product  of  Napa  County  is  wines.  There  are  16,651  acres 
of  vineyard.  The  crop  last  year  was  light,  only  27,083  tons;  the  wine  product,  2,000,000 
gallons.  Napa  County  wines  have  a  world-wide  reputation.  Its  clarets,  sauternes,  hocks, 
rieslings,  and  burgundies  are  unsurpassed,  and  are  in  demand  not  only  for  Eastern  but 
foreign  shipment,  being  highly  esteemed  for  their  purity  and  bouquet.  Such  wines  as 
this  county  and  other  equally  favored  sections  of  the  State  produce,  should  be  in  such 
demand  as  to  drive  out  of  the  Eastern  markets  all  the  vicious,  adulterated,  and  injurious 
foreign  importations  which  travel  under  the  name  of  wine,  protected  by  foreign  labels, 
manufactured  mainly  of  prune  juice  from  the  Mediterranean,  with  potato  spirits  from 
Germany,  and  just  sufficient  good  wine  added  to  give  them  a  saving  flavor. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying.— Stock  raising  is  carried  on  extensively  in  Napa  County. 
There  is  abundant  green,  nutritious  food,  and  much  pains  are  taken  to  raise  the  grades  of 
stock  to  a  finer  quality  all  round.  Thousands  of  dollars  are  also  invested  in  dairying,  in 
stock  ranges,  buildings,  and  improved  machinery  and  appliances.  To  this  end  much 
attention  is  given  to  alfalfa  growing,  to  supplement  the  already  excellent  natural  grasses. 
The  Assessor's  report  shows  6,870  horses,  14,456  cattle,  4,185  hogs,  505  mules,  18,879  sheep,  975 
goats,  and  poultry  to  the  amount  of  $17,025,  ranking  the  sixth  in  the  State. 

Timber. — The  mountains  of  the  county  were  once  covered  with  fir,  pine,  cedar,  oaks, 
and  madrona,  and  the  valleys  with  oaks;  but  clearing  for  vineyards  and  orchards,  and 
the  long  uses  of  forty  years  so  near  the  center  of  population,  have  consumed  a  large  pro- 
portion.   Fuel  is  still  reasonable  in  price,  however. 

Minerals. — The  county  has  very  little  mineral  apart  from  quicksilver  deposits,  and 
those  not  of  much  importance. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.— Napa  City  is  a  great  favorite  for  residence  with  San 
Francisco  business  men,  and  many  elegant  homes  are  found  there.  The  hotels  are  first 
class  both  here  and  at  St.  Helena  and  Calistoga.  Near  the  latter  place  are  hot  springs. 
The  balmy  air,  genial  and  healthful  climate,  and  beautiful  scenery,  make  a  residence  or 
sojourn  anywhere  in  Napa  Valley  very  delightful.  The  best  educational  and  religious 
advantages  are  to  be  found  in  its  towns,  and  the  inhabitants  are  a  social,  refined,  and 
cultured  people. 

Prices  of  Land. — Unimproved  lands,  according  to  quality,  are  from  $7  50  to  |150  an. 
acre;  improved,  from  $100  to  .$300,  under  same  conditions.  Full-bearing  orchards  and 
vineyards  pay  a  good  interest  on  valuation  of  $500  an  acre. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  47 


NEVADA. 


Nevada  County  is  bounded  north  by  Yuba  and  Sierra,  west  by  Yuba,  south  by  Placer, 
and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada. 

Statistics. — Area,  1,125  square  miles,  or  720,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
250,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  306,354  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$5,847,974.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  2.45.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  49.03; 
assessed  at  $608,129.  County  property,  $105,000.  County  debt,  $7,000.  Number  of 
schools,  81.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,343.  School  money,  $79,060  47. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  17,375. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Nevada  City,  the  county  seat,  population  2,425, 
depends  on  mining  and  fruit.  It  has  fine  county  buildings,  good  schools,  elegant  hotels, 
churches,  theater,  two  daily  newspapers,  bank,  and  about  twenty  quartz  mills. 

Grass  Vallej',  the  oldest  quartz  mining  town  in  the  State,  population  4,032,  has  three 
daily  newspapers,  bank,  five  churclies,  hotels,  and  many  large  business  houses  and  fac- 
tories. It  is  a  very  prosperous  town.  These  two  towns  are  connected  by  railroad  with 
the  main  line  of  Central  Pacific  Railroad  at  Colfa.x. 

Truckee,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  6,000  feet  altitude,  popu- 
lation 1,350,  is  mainly  an  ice  and  timber  center,  and  has  good  hotels  and  business 
buildings,  schools  and  churches,  and  six  saw  mills. 

Other  towns  are  Boca,  the  seat  of  a  large  brewery  and  the  center  of  ice  shipments; 
North  San  Juan,  North  Rloomfield,  and  Cherokee,  three  mining  centers. 

Topography. — The  county  extends  from  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento  to  the  summit 
of  the  Sierra;  western  elevation,  1,000  feet;  eastern,  8,000  feet;  Grass  Valley  and  Nevada, 
about  2,500  feet.  About  250,000  acres  of  land  fit  for  tillage  lies  in  the  western  portion  of 
the  county.  The  central  part  is  rolling  hills  and  small  valleys,  fit  for  fruit  culture,  and 
abounding  in  mineral  deposits.  The  eastern  part  is  mountainous,  and  in  perpetual 
snow.  The  Middle  Y'uba  bounds  the  county  on  the  north,  and  the  South  Yuba  and 
Bear  Rivers  bound  it  on  the  south,  all  flowing  into  the  Sacramento  River.  There  are 
inexhaustible  w^ater  supplies  in  the  snows  of  the  mountains,  in  the  streams,  and  in  the 
splendid  upper  reservoir  sites,  which  have  been  extensively  taken  uj)  and  utilized. 

Soils. — The  lower  foothills  are  mainly  reddish  or  granitic  loams,  free  from  rocks,  and 
easy  to  cultivate,  very  fine  fruit  land,  and  adapted  somewhat  to  grain  for  hay.  Around 
Nevada  City  and  Grass  Valley  granite  comes  to  the  surface,  which  is  much  decomposed, 
is  mingled  with  alluvium,  and  forms  excellent  soil  for  fruits  and  vines.  The  upper 
hills  have  also  good  loamy  soil,  producing  heavy  growth  of  forest  trees  and  chaparral. 

Climate. — A  varying  altitude  from  1,000  to  8,000  feet  gives  great  variety  of  climate. 
In  the  extreme  summer,  when  hot  in  the  foothills  by  day,  the  air  in  the  mountains  is 
cool  and  bracing,  while  at  night  even  the  lower  altitudes  are  cool.  Winter  in  the 
western  portion  never  shows  below  25°  to  30°;  in  the  mountains  it  is  arctic  in  severity, 
and  the  snowfall  tremendous.  Grass  Valley  and  Nevada  City  are  a  medium  between 
these  two,  though  the  winters  seldom  show  a  cold  below  20°,  while  the  summers  are 
much  cooler  than  the  plains  below.  Average  annual  rainfall  for  the  central  portion, 
about  50  inches;  western  extremity,  not  much  varying  from  25  inches.  No  failures  ever 
occur  from  drought. 

Irrigation.— There  is  little  irrigation  practiced.  The  ditch  system  of  the  county  is 
enormous.  The  reservoirs,  ditches,  and  fiumes  were  originally  constructed  for  mining, 
but  the  water  is  now  used  for  irrigation  and  water  supply  of  the  towns,  and  for  power 
for  machinery.  Storage  reservoirs  aggregate  2,297  acres,  with  about  6,000,000,000  cubic 
feet  capacity.  Main  ditches  amount  to  783  miles.  No  part  of  this  county  need  suffer 
for  lack  of  water.  The  system  is  extended  into  Placer  County,  where  the  water  is  used 
for  irrigation. 

Agriculture.— Cereals  grow  well  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  About  2,500  acres 
were  seeded  for  1892.  Corn  yields  60  to  75  bushels  per  acre.  Large  crops  of  alfalfa  and 
red  clover  are  raised,  three  crops  being  cut  in  a  season,  and  the  fourth  making  pasture. 
Vegetables  will  bring  from  $250  to  $300  per  acre,  with  proper  cultivation.  Two  crops  of 
potatoes  a  year  can  be  had  with  irrigation. 

Horticulture. — Much  fruit  is  raised,  especially  apples  and  Bartlett  pears.  The  total 
output  of  fruit  in  1892  is  estimated  at  about  3,000,000  pounds,  mostly  taken  for  shipment 


48  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

green  to  the  Eastern  market.  There  are  1,678  acres  in  trees— 1,005>^  acres  bearing  and 
672 >^  not  bearing.  Apples  and  Bartlett  pears  are  the  surest,  because  not  liable  to  frost 
injury  like  peaches  and  apricots,  and  because  of  better  adaptation  of  soil  to  their  growth. 
Grapes  for  table  use  grow  prolific  and  of  exquisite  flavor  and  fine  keeping  qualities. 

Stock  and  Dairying. — Much  stock  is  raised  and  fine  butter  made  in  the  high  altitudes 
of  the  Sierra  in  summer,  with  every  advantage  of  clear,  pure  water,  cool  weather,  and 
abundant  nutritious  grasses.  Assessor's  report  shows  2,936  horses,  6,032  cattle,  710  hogs, 
88  mules,  1,930  sheep,  and  975  goats. 

Timber. — The  mountains  are  thick  with  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar. 
The  Truckee  basin  yields  about  50,000,000  feet  of  lumber  yearly  through  the  six  mills 
of  Truckee. 

Mining. — This  is  one  of  the  foremost  mining  counties  in  the  State.  The  first  discov- 
ery of  gold  in  quartz  was  made  in  1850  at  Grass  Valley,  and  since  that  time  quartz  min- 
ing has  been  continuously  and  profitably  followed.  It  is  estimated  that  the  quartz 
mines  in  the  Grass  Valley  district  have  produced  .$100,000,000  in  gold  bullion.  There  is  a 
wide  field  yet  for  the  investment  of  capital,  not  only  in  the  purchase  of  working  mines, 
but  in  the  discovery  of  new  lodes.  The  auriferous  gravel  deposits  are  tlie  most  exten- 
sive in  the  State,  but  owing  to  litigation  are  npt  now  being  worked.  It  is  expected  that 
the  United  States  Commission  of  Engineers  may  submit  a  plan  by  which  mining  can 
be  resumed  by  building  restraining  dams. 

ORANGE. 

Orange  County  is  bounded  north  by  Los  Angeles,  east  by  San  Bernardino,  south  by 
San  Diego,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  675  square  miles,  or  429,502  acres.  Lands  assessed,  429,502  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $10,060,190.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.30.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  86.78;  assessed  at  $600,817.  County  property,  $6,700. 
County  debt,  none.  Number  of  schools,  74.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years, 
4,157.  School  money,  $96,523  28.  Population,  census  of  1890, 13,564,  which  the  last  school 
census,  taken  in  May,  1893,  indicates  to  have  increased  to  about  20,000. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Santa  Ana  is  the  county  seat;  population  (1890), 
3,628.  The  main  street  is  built  up  almost  solidly  with  substantial  structures.  Tasteful 
residences  in  beautiful  grounds  extend  for  miles  in  every  direction.  There  are  electric 
lights,  waterworks,  street  car  lines,  three  banks,  good  hotels,  ten  churches,  and  excellent 
schools,  also  two  foundries  and  a  planing  mill.  The  cutting  up  of  the  San  Joaquin 
Ranch  would  add  much  to  the  progress  of  Santa  Ana.  Orange  and  Tustin  are  practically 
suburbs  of  Santa  Ana,  being  connected  by  street  car  lines,  as  well  as  railroads.  They 
chiefly  consist  of  ideal  homes,  although  each  place  has  a  business  center.  At  Orange 
there  is  a  college.  From  three  railroad  depots  large  quantities  of  products  are  shipped. 
There  are  several  fruit  packing  houses.  Tustin  is  on  the  edge  of  the  San  Joaquin  Ranch, 
which  is  shortly  to  be  irrigated  and  subdivided.  Around  McPherson  and  Modena  are 
many  raisin  vineyards.  At  Olive  there  is  a  tunnel  700  feet  long,  for  irrigation  purposes. 
A  large  flouring  mill  is  run  by  water  power. 

Anaheim,  founded  as  a  vineyard  colony  by  Germans  from  San  Francisco,  thirty-five 
years  ago,  is  now  the  second  city  in  the  county;  population  (1890),  1,273.  Around  Ana- 
heim is  a  rich  farming  country,  where  products  of  every  variety  are  raised,  from  alfalfa 
to  oranges.  The  irrigation  systems  are  complete.  About  1,000  carloads  of  products  are 
shipped  annually.  There  are  churches,  schools,  opera  house,  hotels,  a  large  brewery, 
fruit  driers,  grist  mills,  i)laning  mills,  brickyards,  and  a  bank.  A  cooperative  beet  sugar 
factory  is  to  be  built  in  the  neighborhood. 

Fullerton  is  a  young  town,  which  has  made  rapid  growth.  There  is  an  irrigation 
system,  and  large  quantities  of  vegetables,  fruits,  and  other  products  are  shipped. 
There  is  a  cannery,  two  packing  houses,  large  brick  schoolhouse,  church,  and  several 
solid  business  houses.  At  Buena  Park  is  a  condensed  milk  factory.  Between  Santa 
Ana  and  the  ocean  is  a  level  tract  of  fertile  country,  well  watered  from  artesian 
wells.  The  chief  centers  are  Westminster  and  Garden  Grove.  On  the  coast  is  Newport 
Landing,  a  summer  resort  and  shipping  point.  North  of  the  landing  are  Newport  and 
Fairview. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCRS.  -19 

In  the  extreme  southern  corner  of  the  county,  in  a  pretty  little  valley  just  back  from 
the  coast,  is  San  Juan  Capistrano,  with  extensive  ruins  of  the  old  mission.  Some  fruit 
is  raised  here,  but  there  has  been  little  develojmient.  Just  beyond,  on  a  high  bhiff  over- 
looking the  ocean,  is  San  Juan,  a  townsite  laid  out  during  the  laud  boom  of  18M7. 

Arch  Beach,  with  a  hotel,  and  Laguna  T.each,  are  favorite  seaside  cami>inR  places  and 
resorts.  Irvine,  Modjeska,  and  El  Toro  are  stations  on  and  near  tiie  San  Joaquin  Ranch. 
In  the  Santa  Ana  ^Mountains  is  Silverado,  a  silver  and  galena  mining  camp. 

Topography,  Soil,  and  Climate.— Orange  is  a  small  county,  but  in  compensation  for 
this,  a  large  proportion  of  its  area  is  arable,  there  being  comparatively  little  steep 
mountain  land.  There  are  65  square  miles  of  mountains,  100  of  foothills,  and  510  of 
valley.  The  climate  is  mild  and  equable,  no  point  being  more  than  20  miles  distant 
from  the  ocean.  It  does  not  materially  differ  from  that  of  Los  Angeles  County,  and  need 
not  further  be  described.  The  soil  is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  in  the  northern  portion  of 
the  county  irrigation  facilities  are  ample,  there  being  100  miles  of  ditches  and  over  1,0(X) 
flowing  artesian  wells.  In  the  south,  one  fourth  of  the  area  of  the  county  is  taken  up 
by  the  great  San  Joaquin  Ranch  of  107,000  acres,  which  is  at  present  devoted  almost 
entirely  to  the  raising  of  barley  and  cattle.  In  the  mountains  are  deposits  of  galena, 
silver,  quicksilver,  coal,  and  other  minerals. 

Agriculture.— The  barley  crop  of  this  county  is  about  50,000  tons,  and  of  corn  0,000 
tons.  From  one  point  in  this  county,  100  carloads  of  cabbage  were  shipped  East  this 
season.  On  the  peat  lands  between  Santa  Ana  and  the  ocean,  crops  of  vegetables  are 
raised  which  surpass  belief.    A  large  acreage  is  devoted  to  sugar  beets. 

Horticulture.— Everything  natural  to  a  semi-tropical  climate  nourishes  in  the  county. 
Oranges,  raisins,  apricots,  walnuts,  and  wine  are  the  principal  fruit  products.  Formerly 
wine  grapes  led  in  importance,  but  the  vines  have  now  given  place  largely  to  walnuts, 
which  have  become  a  specialty  around  Santa  Ana.  The  crop  of  last  season  was  valued 
at  .$100,000,  although  only  a  small  portion  of  the  orchards  is  yet  in  bearing.  The 
apricot  crop  was  worth  $140,000,  and  the  orange  crop  will  swell  the  total  fruit  receipts  to 
over  .|1,000,000.  Over  500  carloads  of  oranges  were  shipped  in  one  season  recently.  The 
Southern  California  line  carried  out  of  the  county  last  year  322,000  pounds  of  dried  fruit. 
The  orchard  acreage  of  the  county  is  about  as  follows:  Oranges,  5,412  acres;  walnuts, 
2,592;  prunes,  1,788;  apricots,  1,492;  peaches,  1,203;  apples,  128;  pears,  803;  figs,  82;  total 
acreage,  15,174;  bearing,  12,206;  not  bearing,  2,968. 

Stock  Raising. — The  climate  of  Orange  is  particularly  adapted  to  live  stock.  There 
are  several  stables  of  fine  racing  stock,  some  of  which  have  achieved  a  national  reputa- 
tion. Near  Santa  Ana  is  one  of  the  best  race  tracks  in  the  State,  where  many  tests  of 
speed  are  made. 

Irrigation.— For  fruit  raising  irrigation  is  necessary.  The  water  supply  appears  to 
be  ample.  Besides  the  Santa  Ana  River,  Santiago  Creek,  and  other  streams,  there  are 
about  one  thousand  flowing  wells  in  the  Santa  Ana  plains,  water  being  found  at  depths 
varying  from  40  to  250  feet. 

Mining.— In  the  Santa  Ana  range  there  are  both  gold  and  silver  depo.sits.  Oil 
deposits  have  been  found  near  Fullerton,  and  coal  on  Santiago  Creek  and  its  tributaries. 
Bitumen,  limestone,  cement,  pottery  clays,  and  gypsum  abound. 

Transportation.— The  Southern  California's  San  Diego  line  traverses  the  entire  length 
of  the  county,  with  a  branch  from  Orange  to  San  Bernardino  County.  The  Southern 
Pacific  extends  to  Santa  Ana  and  Tustin,  and  there  is  a  small  independent  railroad 
from  Santa  Ana  to  Newport,  where  coast  steamships  call. 

This  county,  small  in  area,  is  rich  ,jn  resources,  thickly  settled,  with  a  prosperous 
population,  and  well  illustrates  what  small  subdivisions  of  land,  with  irrigation,  the 
proper  climate  and  soil,  high  cultivation,  and  intense  farming  will  accomplish  in  Cali- 
fornia. On  account  of  these  conditions,  the  prices  of  land  are  naturally  high,  but  not 
above  their  income  product. 

PLACER. 

Placer  County  is  bounded  north  by  Yuba  and  Nevada,  west  by  Sutter,  south  by  El 
Dorado,  and  east  by  Lake  Tahoe  and  the  State  of  Nevada. 

Statistics.-Area,  1,429 Square  miles,  or  91.5,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
150,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  575,989  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  propertv, 
4 


50  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

110,275,060.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.70.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
116.47;  assessed  at  $1,986,823.  County  property,  $35,000.  County  debt,  $2,148  66.  Number 
of  schools,  71.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  3,010.  School  money,  $62,602  60. 
ropulation,  census  of  1890,  15,089. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Auburn,  the  county  seat,  population  1,612, 
altitude  1,360  feet,  is  a  famous  resort.  There  are  two  banks,  three  newspapers,  opera 
house,  agricultural  buildings,  fruit-shipping  houses,  schools,  college,  and  fine  first-class 
hotels.  It  is  lighted  by  electricity,  has  a  splendid  water  system,  and,  since  its  incorpo- 
ration, has  taken  many  steps  of  progress. 

Newcastle,  956  feet  altitude,  is  tlie  largest  shipper  in  the  county,  having  four  large 
fruit-shipping  houses;  shipments  for  1892,  14,132,143  pounds.  It  is  well  provided  with 
hotels,  school  buildings,  churches,  and  business  buildings,  and  one  newspaper. 

Penryn,  626  feet  altitude,  stands  next  to  Newcastle  in  fruit  shipments,  with  three 
fruit  houses.  Loomis,  400  feet  altitude,  is  a  good  second,  with  three  houses.  Fruit 
shipments  from  Penryn,  for  1892,  5,224,502  pounds;  Loomis,  1,250,800  pounds;  Auburn, 
789,589  pounds;  Colfax,  512,415  pounds.  The  large  shipments  from  Newcastle  is  due  to 
the  fact  that  orchardists  from  the  other  sections  ship  from  it.  All  the  fruit  shipped  East 
in  carloads  from  these  stations  is  credited  to  Sacramento,  as  a  railroad  terminal  point. 

Lincoln,  on  the  Oregon  Division  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  is  famous  for  its 
large  pottery  works,  the  output  of  which  is  enormous.  It  is  also  the  center  of  a  large 
wheat-producing  section.    Roseville  and  Sheridan  are  agricultural  towns  in  the  plains. 

Colfax,  altitude  2,422  feet,  is  also  the  center  of  much  fruit  production,  especially 
grapes  and  pears,  and  many  carload  shipments  are  made. 

Rocklin  is  a  large  producer  and  shipper  of  granite.  Fine  granite  quarries  are  also 
worked  at  Penryn  and  Loomis.  Towns  in  the  mining  region  are  Dutch  Flat,  Michigan 
Bluff,  Forest  Hill,  Iowa  Hill,  and  Ophir. 

Transportation. — The  main  line  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  traverses  the  county 
from  east  to  west,  and  the  Oregon  Division  of  the  same  from  Roseville  north. 

Topography.— Placer,  like  Nevada,  is  a  narrow  county,  varying  from  10  to  30  miles. 
It  stretches  in  length  from  Roseville  Junction,  163  feet  altitude,  in  the  plains,  to  the 
summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  7,000  feet  elevation.  By  regular  gradations  it  rises  between 
these  extremes.  The  foothills  proper  begin  between  Roseville  and  Rocklin.  The  famous 
early  fruit  basin  extends  from  Rocklin  to  Auburn,  about  14  miles,  and  is  included 
between  a  range  of  low  granite  hills  about  2  miles  north  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  River,  south  of  the  railroad,  about  7  miles  distant 
at  Loomis  and  about  2  miles  at  Auburn.  The  western  part  of  the  county,  of  which 
Sheridan,  Lincoln,  and  Roseville  are  the  center,  is  level  land  devoted  to  grain  production. 
Above  Colfax  the  mountains  rise  rapidly.  The  eastern  portion  of  the  county  is  mainly 
devoted  to  timber  and  mines.    The  famous  Lake  Tahoe  lies  partly  in  eastern  Placer. 

Soils. — In  the  valleys  and  plains  of  the  western  portion  and  up  into  the  Penryn  dis- 
trict of  the  foothills,  the  soil  is  a  loose  gray  granitic  loam,  rich  in  potash,  streaked  here 
and  there  with  red  soil,  very  deep,  and  good  for  grain,  hay,  and  fruits.  From  Penryn  up 
to  Colfax  the  soil  is  red  from  the  presence  of  oxides  of  iron.  As  far  east  as  Newcastle 
the  soil  is  granitic;  from  thence  to  Colfax  it  is  of  slate  formation.  The  soil,  with  the 
exception  of  rocky  granite  and  volcanic  hills  here  and  there,  is  uniformly  good,  only 
needing  thorough  cultivation  to  produce  excellent  results. 

Climate.— The  temperature  of  the  western  portion  up  to  Penryn  is  like  that  of  Sacra- 
mento. The  mercury  in  August  sometimes  shows  105°  at  2  o'clock;  in  winter  seldom 
below  30°,  in  extreme  cases.  The  average  temperature  is  as  follows:  At  Auburn,  winter, 
46.2°;  summer,  74.3°.  Winter  temperature  falls  as  you  ascend  above  Auburn,  and  sum- 
mer diminishes  also,  though  in  a  less  degree.  Winter  is  milder  as  you  descend  from 
Auburn  to  Rocklin.  Snow  falls  sometimes  from  10  inches  at  Auburn  to  many  feet  at  the 
Summit,  varying  with  the  elevation;  rarely  at  Auburn  and  below,  and  never  remaining 
over  one  day.  Frosts  are  rare  and  light  in  the  fruit  belt.  In  a  word,  imagine  Florida  in 
oranges,  Delaware  and  New  .lersey  in  peaches.  New  York  and  Ohio  in  table  grapes.  New 
England  in  granite  quarries,  and  Maine  in  timber,  and  you  get  some  idea  of  the  range  of 
Placer  in  climate  and  i)roducts.  The  nights  in  summer  are  always  cool;  the  air  is  dry 
and  bracing,  and  the  general  conditions  are  extremely  healthful.  The  mountain  dis- 
tricts are  delightful  and  invigorating  in  the  summer  months. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES,  51 

Irrigation.— Irrigation  from  Colfax  down  to  Koseville  and  Lincoln,  on  both  slopes,  is 
secured  from  the  extensive  system  of  the  South  Yuba  Canal  Conipanj',  embracing  Yuba, 
Bear,  and  American  Rivers.  This  combined  system,  with  about  250  miles  of  ditch,  pipe, 
and  flume,  gives  abundant  water  for  irrigation  to  tlie  entire  fruit  region.  The  south- 
eastern part  of  the  county  is  supplied  from  the  American  River. 

Agriculture.— The  agricultural  products  are  mainly  derived  from  140,000  acres  of  the 
plains,  devoted  principally  to  wheat,  barlej^  and  hay.  Wheat  yields  about  20  bushels  to 
the  acre.  Ilay  is  also  largely  produced  throughout  the  foothills  as  high  up  as  Colfax. 
Many  alfalfa  fields  are  found,  ciitting  four  crops  a  year,  when  irrigated.  All  vegetables 
yield  largely  throughout  this  entire  section— potatoes,  sweet  potatoes,  onions,  tomatoes, 
cabbage,  beets,  carrots,  turnips,  peas,  sweet  corn,  etc.  Sheridan  and  Lincoln  ship  many 
tons  of  wheat  and  barley. 

Horticulture.— The  main  product  of  Placer  County  is  fruit.  On  the  plains  grow 
peaches,  pears,  apricots,  almonds,  plums,  cherries,  and  small  fraits.  In  the  above 
described  warm  fruit  belt  from  Rocklin  to  Auburn,  you  have  the  natural  home  of  the 
peach.  This  is  the  leading  fruit,  then  in  order  come  table  grapes,  plums,  olives,  pears, 
apples,  apricots,  oranges,  cherries,  raisins,  figs,  almonds,  and  walnuts.  The  total  acreage 
in  fruit  is  8,402,  of  which  4,826  is  bearing  and  3,576  not  bearing.  The  shipments  of  fruit 
for  1892  were  21,909,452  pounds,  or  1,125  carloads.  The  bulk  of  this  fruit  is  shipped  East 
green;  very  little  is  dried.  There  are  no  canneries  in  Placer  County.  The  facilities  for 
shipping  East  are  so  superior  in  this  "  gateway  "  county,  that  its  fruits  can  be  guaranteed 
to  reach  the  Eastern  market  in  perfect  condition.  Fruit  picked  in  the  morning  crosses 
the  Sierra  Nevada  the  same  night  on  its  Eastern  way,  and  so  escapes  the  heat.  One 
fifth  of  the  deciduous  fresh  fruit  shipments  of  California  to  the  East,  in  1892,  was  made 
from  Placer  County  alone,  mainly  from  a  section  12  miles  long  and  5  miles  wide.  Placer 
is  making  a  fine  showing  in  oranges,  of  which  she  has  273  acres.  She  has  carried  off 
many  first  prizes  at  the  various  citrus  fairs.  The  culture  of  this  fruit  is  no  experiment 
here,  and  tbe  growing  of  citrus  fruits  will  yet  attain  large  proportions. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — Stock  raising  and  dairying  are  important  interests. 
Butter  making  is  largely  carried  on,  especially  in  the  mountain  ranges  in  summer,  and 
the  product  is  very  fine.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  4,292  horses,  5,525  cattle, 
9,477  hogs,  198  mules,  51,080  sheep,  626  goats,  and  1,957  dozen  poultry. 

Timber.— Much  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar  are  found  in  the  mount- 
ains, and  the  lumber  output  from  that  section  has  been  very  large  for  many  years.  Oak 
and  scrub  pine  abound  all  over  the  foothills,  and  fuel  is  plentiful. 

Mining.— This  county  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous.  Renewed  interest  is  being 
shown  in  its  gold  mines.  If  the  provisions  of  the  late  law  of  Congress  relating  to 
hydraulic  mining  are  effectual,  the  business  of  hydraulic  mining  will  receive  a  great 
impetus.  The  principal  districts  are  Ophir,  near  Newcastle,  with  its  eighty  or  ninety 
quartz  claims,  but  few  of  which  are  now  operated,  and  Michigan  Bluff,  Forest  Hill,  and 
Iowa  Hill,  on  the  divide  between  the  North  and  Middle  Forks  of  the  American  River, 
above  Colfax.  New  capital  is  taking  hold  of  many  good  mines,  and  substantial  increase 
in  the  gold  yield  may  be  looked  for.    The  yield  of  gold  for  1892  was  over  $1,000,000. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.- Auburn,  with  its  well-appointed  hotels,  its  balmy 
air,  and  its  beautiful  scenery,  is  a  noted  place  of  resort  for  health  and  pleasure  seekers. 
Lake  Tahoe  has  a  national  reputation.  It  is  well  supplied  with  hotels,  bathing  and 
fishing  conveniences,  excursion  steamers  on  the  lake,  and  the  finest  mountain  scenery 
to  be  found  anywhere. 

Prices  of  Land.— Good  fruit  and  agricultural  land  in  the  county  can  be  found  at 
prices  varying  from  $20  an  acre  up  to  $100,  unimproved,  and  up  to  $500  for  improved  in 
the  fruit  section,  and  much  lower  in  more  remote  situations.  The  price  depends  on  the 
section  and  proximity  to  the  railroad. 

PLUMAS. 

Plumas  County  is  bounded  north  by  Shasta  and  Lassen,  east  by  Lassen,  south  by 
Sierra,  Butte,  and  Yuba,  and  west  by  Butte  and  Tehama  Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  2,656  square  miles,  or  1,709,840  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
650,000  acres.    Lands  assessed,  358,810  acres.    Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  pro})erty, 


62  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

$2,272,251.  Kate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  2.50.  Number  of  miJes  of  railroad,  none. 
County  proi)erty,  $18,000.  County  debt,  |46,2(X).  Number  of  schools,  32.  Schoolchildren 
between  5  and  17  years,  1,000.    School  money,  $17,228  28.     Population,  census  of  1890, 4,916. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Quincy,  the  county  seat,  altitude  4,000  feet,  has 
a  bank,  newspaper,  and  two  mills.  The  other  towns  are  La  Porte,  Prattville,  Greenville, 
Taylorville,  Beckwith,  and  Crescent  Mills,  all  towns  dependent  on  mining  and  stock 
raising. 

Topography. — Plumas  is  a  mountain  county,  in  the  heart  of  the  Sierra,  having  Lassen 
Peak,  10,577  feet  altitude,  on  the  north,  Pilot  Peak,  7,605  feet  altitude,  and  Spanish  Peak 
within  its  borders.  The  county  is  traversed  by  mountain  ranges,  interspersed  with 
cafions,  valleys,  and  high  rolling  hills.  The  principal  valleys  are  Mountain  ^leadow, 
Big  Meadows,  Indian,  Genesee,  Clover,  American,  Beckwith,  and  Butte.  The  forks  of 
the  Feather  River  drain  the  county  and  furnish  an  abundance  of  pure,  cold  water. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  the  valleys  is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  produces  anything  compati- 
ble with  the  climate. 

Irrigation.— Irrigation,  where  needed,  is  lavishly  supplied  by  the  mountain  streams. 
Round  Vallej'  reservoir  contains  1,000  acres. 

Climate.— The  summer  climate  is  simply  delightful,  bracing  and  cool;  very  cool 
nights.  The  winters  are  severe  as  to  snow,  travel  being  cut  off  except  on  snow  shoes, 
but  the  temperature  is  milder  than  at  the  East. 

Agriculture. — Agriculture  is  confined  to  clover  and  timothy  hay  for  stock  and  dairy 
use,  oats  and  barley  for  local  needs,  vegetables  for  home  consumption.  All  these  grow 
prolifically. 

Horticulture. — Fruit  is  raised  only  for  home  consumption.  Railroad  connections 
would  immensely  increase  the  yield,  for  the  soils  produce  abundantly,  chiefly  apples, 
then  pears,  plums,  small  fruits,  and,  in  favored  localities,  peaches.  The  apples  are  per- 
fection, as  in  almost  all  sections  of  California  in  the  same  altitude,  3,500  to  4,000  feet 
There  are  only  85  acres  of  orchard,  of  which  60  are  in  apples. 

Stock  and  Dairying.— Stock  is  raised  extensively;  many  seek  Plumas  for  summer 
cattle  range,  owing  to  the  abundant  natural  grasses,  timothy,  and  clover,  and  the  pure, 
abundant  waters.  The  choicest  butter  is  made.  The  lack  of  transportation  facilities 
hampers  this  industry,  in  common  wdth  all  the  others.  The  Assessor's  report  show* 
2,328  horses,  10,485  cattle,  579  hogs,  22  mules,  538  sheep,  and  420  dozen  poultry. 

Timber.— Sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  spruce,  and  cedar  timber  abound  and  are  of 
great  size  and  value.  The  magnificent  forests  only  await  transportation  and  modern 
appliances,  though  manj''  districts  are  extensively  worked. 

Mining.— Gold  mining  is  the  leading  industry.  Many  quartz  and  hydraulic  claims 
have  been  opened  and  operated  at  great  expense.  Iron,  copper,  marble,  asbestos,  and 
other  minerals  are  found.    The  future  mining  outlook  is  flattering. 

Resorts.— The  trout  fishing  of  Plumas  is  unexcelled.  The  streams  are  cold  and 
clear.    Big  Meadows  is  a  famous  resort  for  the  devotees  of  rod  and  reel. 

Prices  of  Land.— Prices  of  land  are  naturally  very  reasonable,  owing  to  remoteness- 
from  railroads.  Teaming  and  staging  go  by  Chico  or  Oroville,  in  Butte  County,  to  reach 
railroad  connections. 

SACRAMENTO. 

Sacramento  County  is  bounded  north  by  Placer  and  Sutter,  east  by  El  Dorado  and 
Amador,  south  by  San  Joaquin,  and  west  b\'  Yolo  and  Solano  Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  968  square  miles,  or  619,520  acres.  Lands  assessed,  606,260  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $34,375,159.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 
1.40.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  90.25;  assessed  at  $1,115,889.  County  property,  $350,- 
000.  County  debt,  $(562,784  42.  Number  of  schools,  76.  School  children  between  5  and 
17  years,  7,787.    School  money,  $189,601  79.     Population,  census  of  1890,  40,508. 

State  Capital,  County  Seat,  and  Principal  Towns.— Sacramento,  the  capital  of  the 
State  and  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of  30,000.  The  principal  towns  are  Folsom, 
population  1,4.3.5,  connected  by  rail  with  Sacramento,  location  of  branch  State  Prison, 
has  one  bank,  newspaper,  street  car  line,  and  a  splendid  stone  dam  across  the  American 
River;  Gait,  Elk  Grove,  Florin,  and  Brighton,  on  the  railroad  line  between  Sacramento 
and  Stockton.    These  are  all  thriving  agricultural  and  fruit  centers.    Courtland,  Isleton,. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RKSOURCES.  53 

and  Walnut  Grove,  on  the  Sacramento  River,  are  shipping  centers  of  the  most  productive 
deciduous  fruit  district  in  the  State. 

Topography.— The  topography  of  Sacramento  is  very  simple.  Included  between  the 
Sacraiuento  Kiver,  its  western  boundary,  the  American  River,  near  its  northern  bound- 
ary, and  the  Mokelunine  River,  its  southern  boundary,  its  entire  area  of  620,000  acres  is 
almost  all  a  rich  alluvial  plain  from  30  to  75  feet  above  sea-level,  gradually  rising  to  meet 
the  rolling  foothills  which  commence  in  the  extreme  eastern  portion  of  the  county. 
The  Cosumnes  River,  of  less  importance  than  the  others,  runs  southeast  through  the 
southern  half  of  the  county  and  joins  the  Sacramento  near  Walnut  Grove.  There  is 
much  reclaimed  tule  land  in  the  southwest  portion  of  the  county,  along  the  Sacramento 
River,  including  Grand  Island,  where  orchards  are  located  which  cannot  be  bought  for 
$1,000  an  acre  and  have  an  annual  rental  value  of  .|I0O  and  upwards. 

Soils.— The  richest  and  deepest  alluvial  soils  lie  along  the  Sacramento  River,  from 
Sacramento  to  Walnut  Grove,  and  the  reclaimed  lands  above  mentioned.  Similar  lands 
lie  on  both  sides  of  the  American  River  from  Sacramento  up  toward  Folsom.  As  you 
go  toward  Florin,  Elk  Grove,  and  Gait  the  soil  grows  a  trifle  shallower  and  less  rich,  but 
has,  however,  great  fertilitj'',  and  is  famous  for  orchards  and  small  fruits.  Much  similar 
is  the  soil  along  the  Cosumnes.  As  you  approach  the  foothills  in  the  east  toward  Folsom 
and  toward  lone,  in  Amador  County,  more  of  the  red  soil  appears,  mixed  with  gravel. 
All  of  the  latter,  or  with  few  exceptions,  is  excellent  grain  and  fruit  land.  On  these 
lands  are  the  famous  Natoma  Vineyard,  Orangevale  Colony,  and  many  fine  vineyards 
and  orchards. 

Climate.— The  mean  annual  temperature  of  Sacramento  for  years  past  is  60.5°.  The 
highest  temperature  on  any  occasion  is  104°,  and  that  only  for  a  few  hours  in  the  day- 
time, never  interrupting  work  in  the  field,  orchard,  or  town.  This  dry  heat,  with  rapid 
evaporation  and  free  radiation,  and  no  moisture  in  the  atmosphere,  is  more  easily 
endured  than  85°  in  the  Eastern  States.  For  forty  years  the  average  temperature  of 
spring  has  been  54.9°.  The  nights  are  regularly  cool.  In  ten  j'ears  there  have  been  but 
nine  nights  when  the  mercury  was  above  70°.  There  is  an  average  of  244  cloudless 
days  in  the  year.  During  the  winter,  or  more  properly  the  rainy  season,  running  from 
November  to  May,  with  the  greatest  precipitation  in  December,  January,  and  February, 
the  temperature  averages  about  50°,  and  seldom  in  December  or  January  falls  below  the 
freezing  point  of  32°.  During  the  past  twenty  years  the  earliest  fruit  has  blossomed  as 
early  as  January  20th  and  as  late  as  February  28th.  I.atest  hurtful  frosts  in  same  period 
have  ranged  from  January  9th  to  April  6th,  and  that  extremely  seldom. 

Irrigation.— The  only  irrigation  resorted  to  is  pumping  by  wind,  horse,  or  steam  power 
from  wells  or  from  the  rivers.  Underlying  the  whole  plains  seems  to  be  a  body  of  pure 
water,'  practically  inexhaustible,  even  with  a  delivery  of  80,000  gallons  an  hour.  Irriga- 
tion is  never  used  in  the  orchards,  but  is  sometimes  resorted  to  for  increasing  the  yield 
of  Tokay  and  Muscat  table  grapes,  always  on  strawberries  and  small  fruits,  and  in  most 
nurseries.  Along  the  reclaimed  and  leveed  lands  on  the  Sacramento  River  it  is  never 
resorted  to,  except  in  the  immense  vegetable  gardens,  or  for  small  fruits.  An  extensive 
dam  and  ditch  system  exists  at  Folsom,  which  it  is  proposed  to  extend  through  the 
county  for  irrigation,  and  mechanical  power  to  the  extent  of  6,000  horse-power.  The 
waters  are  supplied  by  the  American  River.  The  Orangevale  Colony,  on  the  north  side, 
near  Folsom,  is  supplied  by  a  pipe  system  from  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  xVmerican. 

Agriculture. — The  lands  along  the  Cosumnes  River,  in  the  vicinity  of  Gait  and  Elk 
Grove,  extending  up  to  near  the  foothills;  the  Norris  (irant,  of  45,000  acres,  north  of  Sac- 
ramento City,  and  other  outlying  sections,  are  devoted  mainly  to  raising  wheat,  barley, 
and  hay,  though  the  fruit  productions  are  also  considerable.  Thousands  of  acres  along 
the  river  bottoms  are  used  for  the  production  of  all  kinds  of  vegetables,  which  are  shipped 
East  in  immense  quantities  by  the  carload,  and  even  at  times  by  the  trainload,  includ- 
ing cabbages,  beets,  carrots,  lettuce,  onions,  asparagus,  celery,  common  and  sweet  pota- 
toes, and  many  other  products.  Vegetable  lands  often  bring  a  rental  of  $50  an  acre  a 
year  along  the  Sacramento  River.  Many  tons  of  tomatoes  and  peas  are  raised  and 
shipped  or  furnished  to  the  canneries.  Along  the  Sacramento,  American,  and  Cosumnes 
Rivers  are  the  finest  and  most  productive  hop  fields  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  Alfalfa  with- 
out irrigation  grows  luxuriantly  along  all  the  rich  bottom  lands,  producing  from  7  to  8 
tons  an  acre  a  year.    The  production  of  grain  hay  and  alfalfa  liay  is  many  thousands 


54  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

of  tons  annually.  Space  fails  to  give  any  complete  list  of  the  agricultural  products  ol 
the  county.  The  following  area  was  seeded  for  1892:  Wheat,  80,000  acres;  oats,  400;  barley, 
45,000;  corn,  6,000;  hay,  45,000. 

Horticulture. — The  annual  green  fruit  product  is  about  90,000,000  pounds,  which 
would  be  an  average  yield  of  4^2  tons  to  the  bearing  acre,  equivalent  to  a  gross  yield  of 
$150  an  acre,  or  say  .$100  an  acre  profit.  The  leading  fruit  district  of  the  county  is  on 
the  Sacramento  River,  from  the  city  down  to  Walnut  Grove.  Florin,  Brighton,  and  Elk 
Grove  are  very  important  points;  also,  Routiers,  Mayhews,  Natoma,  and  Folsom,  the 
latter  two  being  mostly  in  vinej'ard  products.  Of  all  the  fruits,  peaches  lead  in  acreage 
and  production;  then,  in  order,  come  pears,  grapes,  prunes,  plums,  apricots,  almonds, 
oranges,  cherries,  figs,  and  olives.  There  are  reported  195  acres  of  oranges,  and  these 
produce  as  good  fruit  as  in  any  section  of  the  State.  The  chief  reliance,  for  profit  and 
shipment,  is  on  the  peach,  the  Bartlett  pear,  and  the  Tokay,  Emperor,  and  Cornichon 
grapes  for  table  use,  which  are  all,  in  their  season,  delivered  in  fine  condition  by  refrig- 
erator cars  in  the  Eastern  market,  and  bring  the  highest  prices.  The  Bartlett  pear  crop 
of  the  Sacramento  River  is  generally  contracted  for  on  the  tree  early  in  the  season.  The 
Tragedy  prune,  originating  on  the  Sacramento  River,  yields  immensely,  and  is  a  very 
profitable  crop.  The  best  orchards  in  this  section  cannot  be  bought  for  less  than  $1,000 
an  acre,  as  they  easily  pay  from  12  to  20  per  cent  profit  on  that  valuation.  There  are 
12,545  acres  of  fruit  trees  and  vineyard  in  the  county — 10,055  bearing  and  2,490  not 
bearing.  Immense  amounts  of  strawberries  are  raised  annually  around  Sacramento, 
principally  in  the  vicinity  of  Florin,  the  county  standing  second  in  this  crop  to  Santa 
Clara  County. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — The  richness  of  the  soil  and  the  immense  food  prod- 
ucts of  this  county  facilitate  the  keeping  of  a  large  amount  of  stock  of  all  kinds 
without  the  necessity  of  changing  range  winter  and  summer.  For  the  same  reason  the 
stock  is  in  better  condition,  and  much  finer  blooded  grades  are  owned.  Several  famous 
breeding  farms  are  located  near  Sacramento,  and  many  others  are  engaged  in  raising 
trotting  and  other  fine  stock,  in  a  smaller  way.  Large  quantities  of  butter  of  the  finest 
quality  are  made  on  the  river  and  in  various  parts  of  the  county.  Much  stock  is 
furnished  for  the  slaughter-house.  The  poultry  interest  is  also  very  profitable;  and  no 
insignificant  amount  of  mutton  and  wool  is  produced.  The  Assessor  reports  8,616  horses, 
19,790  cattle,  6,410  hogs,  377  mules,  28,970  sheep,  and  4,970  dozen  poultry. 

Sacramento  City  Manufactures.— The  principal  manufacturing  of  the  county  is 
done  in  Sacramento  City.  Aside  from  the  Central  Pacific  shops,  foundries,  and  fur- 
naces located  here,  which  employ  2,000  men  and  cover  25  acres,  the  city  has  six  brew- 
eries, two  wineries,  two  canneries,  six  flour  and  feed  mills,  planing  mills,  box  factories, 
sash,  door,  and  blind  factories,  soap  works,  agricultural  machine  works,  carriage  and 
wagon  factories,  iron  foundries,  boiler  shops,  machine  shops,  brass  works,  spice  and 
coffee  mills,  manufactories  for  mineral  waters,  essences,  flavoring  extracts,  and  a  hun- 
dred other  articles  of  commerce. 

Commerce. — The  shipments  by  rail  and  river  are  immense.  The  fruit  products  alone 
of  1892  shipped  from  Sacramento  by  rail  amounted  to  about  90,000,000  pounds,  besides 
large  amounts  of  potatoes,  cabbages,  and  other  vegetables,  and  5,000,000  pounds  of  hops. 
Her  total  east-bound  shipments  for  1892  amounted  to  130,000,000  pounds.  The  amount 
of  lumber  handled  yearly  is  immense.  Five  Sacramento  river  steamers  carry  a  large 
amount  of  freight,  both  up  and  down  stream.  The  traffic  in  fish,  brick,  cement,  and  lime 
is  very  large.  The  manufacturing  and  jobbing  trade  of  Sacramento  is  over  .$60,000,000  a 
year.  No  more  details  are  required  to  show  her  importance  as  a  distributing  center,  and 
that  she  does  not  need  to  depend  on  her  position  as  the  capital  and  the  railroad  shops 
alone  for  her  prominence  and  prosperity.  Besides  the  beautiful  buildings  and  grounds 
of  the  State  Capitol,  the  city  has  fine  county  buildings,  City  Hall,  waterworks,  gasworks, 
electric  light  plants,  and  a  complete  system  of  electric  street  railways,  well-paved  and 
well-sewered  streets,  a  splendid  (iovernment  building  now  nearly  completed,  at  a  cost  of 
$150,000,  excellent  hotels,  six  banks,  with  millions  of  dollars  of  assets,  whose  loans 
are  distributed  over  the  entire  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Valleys;  the  magnificent 
Crocker  Art  Gallery,  presented  to  the  city,  representing  a  value  of  .$650,000,  and  hundreds 
of  elegant  residences,  surrounded  with  lawns,  trees,  shrubbery,  and  flowers.  Her  school 
buildings  and  churches  are  elegant  and  numerous,  and  her  educational  and  religious 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     RESOURCES,  55 

advantages  unsurpassed.  A  company,  recently  formed,  is  now  preparing  to  transmute 
the  immense  water-power  of  the  Folsom  dam  into  electrical  enerj;y,  and  transmit  the 
same  to  Sacramento  to  run  its  street  cars,  light  its  streets  and  buildings,  and  furnish  a 
large  excess  of  power  for  general  manufacturing  purposes.  This  is  the  pioneer  enter- 
prise of  this  nature  to  be  entered  into  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  its  success,  whicii  is  as 
good  as  assured,  will  spur  up  the  laggard  energies  of  other  capitalists  in  California  to 
seize  upon,  divert,  distribute,  and  control,  for  the  prosperity  of  the  people  and  their 
own  immense  profit,  the  many  thousand  horse-power  of  water  which  now  flows  through 
our  unused  rivers,  idly  wasted,  to  the  sea. 

Prices  of  Land.— Land  can  be  purchased  in  Sacramento  County  all  the  way  from 
$50  an  acre  for  grain  and  hay  land,  up  to  $1,000  an  acre  for  improved  fruit  lands  of  the 
Sacramento  and  American  Rivers. 

SAN  BENITO. 

San  Benito  County  is  bounded  north  by  Santa  Clara  County,  east  by  Merced  and 
Fresno,  south  and  west  by  IMonterey. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,056  square  miles,  or  675,840  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
150,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  407,677.40  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$6,318,775.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.55.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  17.65; 
assessed  at  $165,042.  County  property,  $50,000.  County  debt,  $41,250.  Number  of  schools, 
54.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,085.  School  money,  $75,480  62.  Popula- 
tion, census  of  1890,  6,390. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Hollister,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of 
1,280,  with  bank,  college,  two  newspapers,  ten  grain  warehouses,  with  storage  capacity  of 
900,000  bushels,  mill,  and  good  county  buildings,  schools,  churches,  and  stores.  Trea 
Pinos  is  the  present  terminus  of  the  railroad.  San  Juan  is  the  location  of  old  Mission 
buildings. 

Topography. — On  the  east  is  the  Mount  Diablo  range,  on  the  west  the  Gabilan 
Mountains.  The  land  slopes  from  both  these  ranges  to  the  valley  of  the  San  Benito 
River,  which  flows  northwesterly  through  the  center  of  the  county  and  empties  into  the 
Pajaro  River  near  Santa  Cruz  boundary.  The  river  has  several  small  tributaries.  Though 
a  large  area  may  be  classed  as  mountain,  there  is  still  much  level  land  in  the  main  valley 
for  fruit.  There  are  about  34,300  acres  of  first-class  grain  land,  principally  in  what  is 
known  as  San  Benito  ValleJ^  This  is  a  black,  sandy  loam  or  adobe,  with  blue  or  sandy 
subsoil,  and  holds  moisture  well;  also  about  46,000  acres  of  second-class  grain  land  in 
the  foothills,  composed  equally  of  adobe  and  sandy  soil,  not  so  strong  as  the  valley  land, 
but  producing  fairly  well.  This  is  the  land  that  raises  the  famous  Hollister  hay.  Finally, 
a  large  amount  of  hill  land,  excellent  for  pasture;  most  valley  ranches  take  in  a  portion 
of  this  land  also.  The  largest  single  body  of  fine  land  is  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
county,  and  constitutes  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Santa  Clara  Valley.  Numerous 
smaller  valleys  are  San  Juan,  Santa  Ana,  Quien  Sabe,  Los  Muertos,  Bear,  Panoche,  and 
Bitter  Water. 

Climate.— Though  the  Gabilan  range  intervenes,  the  climate  is  tempered  by  the 
ocean.  Fogs  are  rare,  but  the  ocean  breezes  in  summer  render  the  climate  healthful  and 
delightful.  The  temperature  of  Hollister  averages  59.5°,  with  lowest  extreme  winter  at 
21°,  and  highest  extreme  summer  109°.  Vegetables  grow  the  year  round.  The  nights 
are  always  cool.  The  annual  rainfall  is  12  inches,  between  November  and  April.  In  the 
mountains  the  rainfall  is  greatly  increased. 

Irrigation.— No  irrigation  is  provided  for,  as  the  natural  supply  of  moisture  is  suffi- 
cient, though,  if  necessary,  a  great  portion  of  the  valley  could  be  irrigated  at  small 
expense.    Over  a  large  area  artesian  water  can  be  readily  obtained. 

Agriculture.— A  large  quantity  of  cereals  and  general  farm  produce  is  raised  yearly, 
and  many  tons  of  hay,  grain,  and  vegetables  are  shipped  to  San  Francisco  and  other 
points.    The  Assessor  makes  no  report  of  acreage  in  cereals. 

Horticulture  .—There  are  1,713  acres  of  fruit  trees  and  vines— 1,151  bearing  and  562  not 
bearing.  One  of  the  oldest  orchards  in  the  State  is  at  San  Benito,  planted  in  1785.  The 
leading  fruit  in  acreage  is  the  prune,  next  in  order  apricots,  peaches,  pears,  and  apples, 
then  almonds,  walnuts,  grapes,  cherries,  figs,  and  olives.    There  are  3  acres  of  oranges. 


56  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Much  attention  has,  of  late,  been  turned  from  farming  and  stock  raising  to  fruit  cult- 
ure, and  with  most  gratifying  results,  yet  no  shipments  of  fruit  are  made  from  the 
county.  Enough  has  been  done  to  show  that  the  county  can  produce  a  very  wide  range 
of  excellent  fruits. 

Stock  Raising.— This  is  a  very  thriving  stock  section,  much  attention  being  paid  to 
excellent  breeds  of  horses  and  cattle.  The  Assessor  reports  8,041  horses,  28,684  cattle, 
2,935  hogs,  182  mules,  22,830  sheep,  570  goats,  and  2,702  dozen  poultry. 

Timber. — The  timber  product,  except  for  fuel,  which  is  abundant,  is  not  important. 

Mining.— The  New  Idria  Quicksilver  Mines,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county, 
have  produced  in  the  last  thirty-four  years  155,000  flasks,  worth  $8,000,000.  Antimony, 
gypsum,  and  other  minerals  are  found. 

Prices  of  Land.— Land  can  be  bought  very  reasonably  in  this  county.  It  is  a  very 
favorable  place  for  settlement,  considering  the  low  prices  of  land,  nearness  to  market, 
productive  soil,  and  healthful  climate. 

SAN  BERNARDINO. 

San  Bernardino  County  is  bounded  north  by  State  of  Nevada  and  Inyo  County,  east 
by  the  State  of  Nevada  and  Arizona  Territory,  south  by  San  Diego  and  Orange  Counties, 
and  west  by  Orange,  Los  Angeles,  and  Kern  Counties.  This  is  the  largest  county  in  the 
State,  three  times  as  large  as  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  ' 

Statistics. — Area,  23,476  square  miles,  or  15,024,640  acres.  Unentered  Government 
land,  5,000,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  783,119  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all 
property,  .f 26, 751, 114.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.60.  Number  of  miles  of 
railroad,  628.39;  assessed  at  .|3,513,040.  County  property,  $235,000.  County  debt,  $15,987. 
Number  of  schools,  155.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  7,826.  School  money, 
$326,669  27.    Population,  census  of  1890,  25,486. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — San  Bernardino,  the  county  seat,  population 
8,000,  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  county.  It  has  three  nevt'spapers,  three  banks,  two  motor 
roads,  8  miles  of  street  railway,  an  elegant  Court-house  in  course  of  construction,  first- 
class  hotels,  and  business  blocks.    A  State  insane  asylum  is  located  here. 

Riverside,  the  pioneer  settlement  in  the  orange  industry,  population  5,500,  has  a 
wealthy  and  enterprising  class  of  citizens,  beautiful  homes,  and  magnificent  drives. 
Magnolia  Avenue,  15  miles  long,  lined  with  shade  trees  and  ornamental  plants,  through 
the  heart  of  the  richest  orange  groves  in  the  county,  has  a  national  reputation.  River- 
side has  six  banks,  three  newspapers,  elegant  hotels,  and  one  of  the  finest  opera  houses 
in  the  State. 

Colton,  population  2,000,  is  the  railroad  center  of  the  county.  It  has  two  newspapers, 
large  cannery  and  packing  houses,  and  the  largest  pavilion  south  of  San  Francisco. 

Redlands  is  a  growing  and  lovely  town  of  2,000  population.  It  has  three  newspapers, 
good  hotels,  fine  residences  and  stores,  and  every  promise  of  a  prosperous  future. 

Ontario,  population  1,600,  has  a  fine  street,  Euclid  Avenue,  200  feet  wide  and  7  miles 
long,  lined  with  four  rows  of  trees,  and  a  gravity  street  car  line  its  entire  length. 

South  Riverside,  Chino,  Beaumont,  Banning,  Highlands,  and  Rialto  are  all  growing, 
enterprising  towns,  surrounded  by  orchards.  Needles,  Daggett,  Barstow,  Calico,  and 
Victor  are  all  mining  towns  of  more  or  less  importance. 

Topography. — A  large  part  of  the  area  of  the  county  is  arid  land,  and  wild,  rugged 
mountains,  abounding  in  mineral  wealth.  To  the  south  and  west  of  these  lie  nearly 
1,000  square  miles  of  vine-clad  and  orchard-covered  valleys,  well  styled  the  Italy  of 
America.  In  the  range  of  mountains  which  separates  this  from  the  desert.  Mount 
San  Bernardino,  elevation  10,225,  and  Mount  Grayback,  elevation  11,090  feet,  are  con- 
spicuous features.  The  Mojave  Desert  is  largely  a  sandy  waste,  with  occasional  volcanic 
mountain  ridges  and  peaks  and  alkali  tracts,  without  other  growth  than  the  yucca,  small 
nut  j)iiies,  and  occasional  juniper.  Beds  of  dry  lakes  and  creeks  abound,  hot  springs, 
boiling  mud  lakes,  salt  beds,  borax  deposits,  and  sulphur. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  the  arable  portion  varies  from  a  sandy  loam,  mixed  with  gravel, 
on  the  high  mesas  or  table  lands,  to  a  black,  heavy  damp  loam  on  the  river  bottoms. 
The  red  soil  of  Redlands  is  characteristic  of  the  foothills.  Old  San  Bernardino  has 
a  heavy  black  loam;  Riverside,  heavy  clay  mixed  with  sand,  and  gravelly  on  higher 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  57 

portions;  Rialto,  a  sandy  and  gravelly  loam;  Cucamonga,  a  light  sandy  soil;  Ontario,  a 
gravelly  loam,  warm  and  fertile;  on  the  terrace  at  Colton,  a  rich,  deep  loam;  on  the  river 
bottoms,  a  cold,  damp  clay.  All  these  soils,  except  the  alkali  and  river  bottom  damp 
clays,  are  first-class  fruit  lands. 

Climate. — The  widest  range  of  climate  is  found  in  this  vast  area.  The  mountains, 
crowned  with  snow,  and  the  elevated  northern  plateau,  presents  a  winter  climate  like 
the  East.  South  of  the  mountains  a  different  climate  prevails.  At  Highlands  frost  is 
almost  unheard  of;  at  Redlands  a  little  occurs;  at  Ontario  and  Riverside  a  trifle  more; 
never,  in  any  case,  doing  much  damage.  8an  Bernardino  City  suffers  more,  on  account 
of  damper  soil  and  lower  altitude.  The  summer  extreme  of  105°  is  sometimes  reached, 
but  only  a  very  few  days  in  the  year,  and  the  air  is  always  dry  and  modified  after  2 
o'clock  by  the  influence  of  ocean  air  currents.  The  rainfall  varies  with  topography— at 
Riverside,  8  inches  a  year;  Redlands,  more;  San  Bernardino,  about  12  inches;  at  Bear 
Valley,  rarely  ever  a  less  fall  than  30  inches,  sometimes  as  much  as  100  inches.  The  rain- 
fall of  San  Bernardino  for  1891-2,  November  to  May,  was  16.85  inches.  On  the  desert 
the  precipitation  is  very  light. 

Irrigation.— But  this  county  is  not  dependent  upon  rainfall  and  exhibits  the  wonder- 
ful and  magic  influence  of  its  great  irrigation  system.  The  first  attempt  to  utilize  the 
water  was  in  1870.  In  1880  the  acreage  capacity  of  the  principal  irrigation  systems  was 
16,000;  in  1890, 128,700.  The  irrigating  ditches  extend  250  miles.  In  the  past  year  .$750,000 
has  been  expended  in  developing  other  systems.  At  present  430,000  acres  are  under 
irrigation,  of  which  55,000  are  directly  and  375,000  indirectly  irrigated.  The  larger  part 
of  the  Bear  Valley  water  is  piped.  Almost  all  the  works  of  this  county  were  originally 
built  with  the  direct  view  of  irrigation  and  not  for  mining.  A  new  system,  soon  to  be 
built,  will  reclaim,  by  the  jNIojave  River  water,  200,000  acres  of  arid,  though  fertile,  desert 
lands.  There  are  also  400  flowing  artesian  wells  in  the  county  from  100  to  400  feet  deep. 
Fruit  lands  require  from  one  tenth  to  one  eighth  of  a  miner's  inch  of  water  per  acre 
every  month  during  summer.  The  charges  for  water  are  low,  and  in  many  cases  water 
rights  go  with  the  land. 

Agriculture.— Acres  sown  for  crop  of  1892  reported:  wheat,  3,860;  oats,  10;  barley, 
90,450;  corn,  552;  hay,  31,240.  Barley  is  grown  largely  about  Beaumont,  but  not  so  much 
as  formerly.  Sugar  beets  are  grown  extensively  at  Chino,  where  are  situated  the  largest 
beet  sugar  works  in  the  State,  representing  .|650,000  value,  with  a  daily  capacity  of  550 
tons,  and  a  daily  output  of  150,000  pounds  of  sugar.  Over  5,000  acres  are  devoted  to  the 
crop,  and  the  sugar  per  cent  is  large.    The  county  yield  of  all  vegetables  is  large. 

Bees.— Extensive  apiaries  produce  yearly  380,000  pounds  of  honey. 

Horticulture.— Fruit  raising  is  the  leading  industry  of  this  county,  and  especially 
citrus  fruits,  in  the  production  of  which  San  Bernardino  stands  far  above  all  other 
counties.  "  Riverside  Navels "  have  a  world-wide  reputation.  The  acreage  in  fruit 
reported  by  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture  is  49,236,  of  which  37,240  acres  are  in  oranges 
and  lemons  (mainly  the  former),  and  9,076  acres  in  vineyards,  the  balance  being  in 
deciduous  fruits.  As  Fresno  is  known  for  its  raisins,  so  has  Riverside  oranges  spread 
the  fame  of  San  Bernardino.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the  fruit  lands  of  the  county  is 
$23,238,672.  Next  in  importance  to  citrus  fruits  follow  grapes,  peaches,  apricots,  prunes, 
pears,  olives,  figs,  walnuts,  and  almonds.  The  orange  industry  is  only  in  its  infancy, 
however,  for  only  one  sixth  of  the  trees  planted  are  yet  in  bearing.  The  plantings  for 
1892  were,  oranges,  5,000  acres;  lemons,  750;  vineyard,  2,269;  olives,  500.  Riverside  leads 
in  oranges,  with  8,688  acres;  Ontario,  3,582;  Redlands,  3,399;  Rialto,  1,357;  Highlands, 
1,187;  San  Bernardino,  1,085;  Mission,  1,859;  South  Riverside,  1,555;  Colton,  637.  The 
orange  and  lemon  shipments  for  the  county  in  1892  were  1,766  carloads,  or  427,242  boxes. 
The  estimate  for  1893  is  2,779  carloads,  or  797,750  boxes,  worth  from  $1  to  ?3  per  box. 
Other  varieties  of  fruits  are  apples,  quinces,  nectarines,  loquats,  guavas,  strawberries, 
raspberries,  etc.  Olives  are  steadily  gaining  in  favor.  Deciduous  fruits  produced  in 
1892:  green,  6,408,444  pounds;  dried,  3,103,630  pounds;  canned,  1,062,740  pounds;  raisins, 
5,912,000  pounds;  nuts,  12.3,780  pounds.  Raisins  rank  next  to  oranges.  The  Cucamonga 
and  San  Bernardino  wineries  make  about  300,000  gallons  of  wine  and  10,000  gallons  of 
brandy  yearly. 

Stock,  etc. — The  stock  interests  of  the  county  are  of  considerable  importance.  A 
number  of  bands  of  sheep  are  kept,  and  the  annual  wool  clip  is  about  360,000  pounds. 


58  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

The  Assessor  reports  6,985  horses,  12,551  cattle,  376  hogs,  390  mules,  27,320  sheep,  1,292 
goats,  and  1,779  dozen  poultry. 

Timber. — On  the  mountains  north  of  San  Bernardino  City  are  about  270  square 
miles  of  heavy  forests  of  magnificent  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  fir,  and  spruce.  Several 
large  mills  are  located  there,  and  the  annual  output  is  about  7,400,000  feet  of  lumber. 

Minerals.— The  mineral  deposits  of  the  county  are  varied  and  immense.  Gold,  silver, 
iron,  lead,  copper,  tin,  salt,  borax,  plumbago,  soda,  gypsum,  asbestos,  coal,  and  bitumoi: 
are  found,  mostly  in  the  San  Bernardino  ^fountains,  and  in  the  great  broken  areas  vi 
the  Mojave  Desert.  ^Mining  for  the  precious  metals  is  extensive,  but  the  output  cannot 
be  ascertained.  Slover  Mountain,  near  Colton,  is  a  nearly  solid  body  of  marble  and 
onyx.  It  is  used  extensively  throughout  the  State.  The  marble  columns  of  the  Cali- 
fornia State  Building  at  the  Columbian  Exposition  came  from  these  quarries.  Great 
interest  is  felt  in  the  Yanderbilt  mining  district,  recently  developed  in  the  extreme 
eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  unusually  rich  results  are  expected  from  that  section. 
A  railroad  is  in  course  of  construction  from  Goffs,  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  to  reach 
that  section,  and  to  extend  into  the  State  of  Nevada.  A  new  line  is  also  reported  as  in 
contemplation  from  Mojave  to  Independence,  Inyo  County,  which  will,  when  built, 
open  up  a  large  and  rich  mining  territory. 

SAN  DIEGO. 

San  Diego  County  is  bounded  north  by  Orange  and  San  Bernardino  Counties,  east  by 
Arizona,  south  by  Mexico,  or  Lower  California,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  is 
next  in  size  to  San  Bernardino  County. 

Statistics.— Area,  14,968  square  miles,  or  9,579,520  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
6,822,621  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,569,185.67  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  prop- 
ertj-,  129,162,808.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.42.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
414;  assessed  at  $2,495,488.  County  property,  $185,500.  County  debt,  $269,000.  Number 
of  schools,  229.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  8,512.  School  money,  $229,899  69. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  34,878. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— San  Diego  City,  the  county  seat,  occupies  a 
beautiful  site  on  one  of  the  finest  bays  in  the  world,  which  has  an  area  of  22  square 
miles.  Population  (1890),  16,159.  The  new  city,  although  founded  in  1867,  has  been  prac- 
tically created  within  eight  years.  There  are  250  miles  of  street,  40  of  which  are  graded 
and  5  paved;  37  miles  of  street  railway,  mostly  electric;  75  miles  of  motor  road,  41 
miles  of  sewer,  and  65  miles  of  water  mains.  There  are  fifteen  hotels,  twenty-three 
churches,  five  banks,  eight  large  public  schools,  a  $100,000  opera  house,  $200,000  Court- 
house, and  numerous  handsome  brick  blocks.  A  large  shipping  business  is  done,  espe- 
cially in  imports  of  coal  and  lumber.  There  are  coal  bunkers  with  a  capacity  of  15,000 
tons.  Across  the  bay  from  San  Diego,  on  a  peninsula,  is  the  famous  Coronado  Hotel. 
This  hotel,  with  accommodations  for  2,000  guests,  with  'I}4  acres  of  grounds  beautifully 
adorned  with  gardens,  lawns,  baths,  terraces,  ocean  beach,  drives,  electric  lights,  water- 
works, and  an  entire  town  tributary  to  it,  constitutes  one  of  the  most  delightful  seaside 
resorts  in  the  world. 

National  City,  population  (1890)  1,353,  is  5  miles  south  of  San  Diego;  it  is  the  terminus 
of  the  Santa  Fe  system  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Farther  south  is  Chula  Vista,  where  are 
extensive  lemon  orchards.  Tia  Juana,  on  the  frontier,  is  the  gateway  to  Mexico.  Other 
places  in  the  bay  region  are  Otaj',  Oneonta,  South  San  Diego,  and  Pacific  Beach.  Between 
the  bay  and  the  mountains  are  the  fertile  Sweetwater  and  Cajon  Valleys,  where  large 
quantities  of  raisins  are  cured.  Poway  is  in  a  beautiful  valley,  15  miles  north  of  San 
Diego,  with  church,  school,  etc.  Forty  miles  northeast  of  San  Diego,  at  an  elevation  of 
4,250  feet,  is  Julian,  population  (1890)  327,  a  timbered  mineral  region,  with  productive 
mines  and  profitable  apple  and  cherry  orchards.  La  Mesa,  8  miles  northeast  of  San 
Diego,  has  about  500  acres  in  fruit.  I]scondido,»one  of  the  most  thriving  towns  in  the 
county,  population  (1890)  541,  is  on  a  branch  line  from  Oceanside.  Up  the  coast  from 
San  Diego  is  a  pleasant  ride  by  rail.  At  Linda  Vista,  15  miles  north,  a  complete  irriga- 
tion system  is  being  established.  Del  Mar  is  a  pleasant  little  seaside  resort.  Back  of 
Encinitas  is  a  fertile  farming  country.  Carlsbad  has  a  mineral  spring  and  a  comforta- 
ble hotel.    Oceanside  is  a  thriving  town,  with  a  fine  beach,  flouring  mill,  hotels,  stores, 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEK     RESOURCES.     '  59 

;tc.  The  surrounding  country  is  fertile.  Five  miles  northeast  is  the  San  Luis  Rey 
^'^ alley  and  the  old  Mission,  about  to  be  restored. 

Fallbrook,  on  an  elevated  rolling  mesa,  has  a  bank,  churches,  etc.,  and  a  fine  climate. 
From  Temecula,  the  southern  terminus  of  the  railroad  from  Perris,  much  produce  is 
shipped.  Murietta,  population  (1890)  537,  has  a  hotel,  churches,  large  schools,  stores,  and 
nany  neat  homes.  At  Wildomar  a  300-foot  tunnel  has  developed  a  stream  of  water. 
Elsinore  is  by  the  side  of  a  lake,  5  miles  by  2  in  extent.  There  is  a  bank,  brick  blocks, 
md  a  pottery.  Perris,  in  one  of  the  largest  valleys  of  Southern  California,  now  chiefly 
ievoted  to  grain,  is  a  thriving  little  town.  There  are  brick  blocks,  a  bank,  hotels,  irriga- 
;ion  system,  schools,  and  churches.  Nearby  are  good  mines.  In  the  San  .Tacinto Valley, 
vhich  contains  an  immense  area  of  level  fertile  land,  from  1,400  to  1,800  feet  above  the 
sea.  and  surrounded  by  mountains,  is  San  Jacinto,  population  (1890)  1,200,  with  brick 
Duildings,  sash  and  door  factorj',  planing  mill,  bank,  hotels,  etc.  In  the  mountains  are 
umber  mills  and  the  Hemet  Valley  reservoir.  Winchester  is  a  small  town  between 
san  .Tacinto  and  Perris.  At  Palm  Springs,  on  the  Colorado  Desert,  early  fruits  are  raised. 

Topography. — San  Diego  is  the  most  southern  countj'  in  the  State,  being  bounded  by 
Mexico  on  the  south.  It  is  the  second  county  in  California  in  point  of  size;  only  exceeded 
n  that  respect  by  San  Bernardino.  A  large  area  is  desert,  so  called,  but  which  only  needs 
vater  for  irrigation  to  be  productive.  The  county  extends  back  from  the  ocean  to  the 
]!olorado  River,  and  in  elevation  from  250  feet  below  to  10,987  feet  above  sea-level.  Within 
;hese  limits  may  be  found  almost  every  variety  of  soil  and  climate.  There  are  three  dis- 
;inct  belts,  beginning  at  the  coast  and  extending  back  into  the  desert  region.  From  the 
;oast-line,  75  miles  in  length,  back  to  the  hill  country,  a  distance  of  30  or  40  miles,  are 
ow  valleys,  with  intervening  mesas  and  hills.  The  second  division  includes  the  mount- 
lin  region  of  the  interior,  where  minerals  are  found  and  deciduous  fruits  raised.  The 
.bird  section  is  the  desert,  which  covers  about  two  thirds  of  the  area  of  the  county.  This 
•egion  has  great  possibilities,  under  irrigation.  Recently,  San  Diego  has  entered  upon 
I  course  of  improvement  and  enterprise,  proving  that  she  does  not  rely  altogether  upon 
;he  advantages  of  her  fine  bay  and  peerless  climate. 

Soils.— The  mesa  lands,  for  the  most  part,  have  a  reddish  and  very  fertile  soil.  Near 
S'ational  City  is  a  red  clayey  soil.  El  Cajon  has  loams  resembling  Riverside  lands.  Otay 
listrict  is  largely  black  adobe,  very  strong.  .Tamul  and  Janal  are  divided  between  black 
md  gray  adobe  and  sandy  loam.  San  Jacinto  Valley  and  plain  has  warm  sandy  loam, 
iometimes  with  clay  admixtures,  and  turning  reddish  as  it  rises  to  tlie  foothills.  Colo- 
rado River  bottoms,  in  the  east,  have  a  soil  easily  worked,  which  will  be  proved  highly 
jroductive  when  the  immense  Colorado  River  irrigation  system,  now  already  inaugurated, 
s  fully  completed. 

Climate.— San  Diegans  are  justly  proud  of  the  equable  and  delightful  climate  of  the 
!oast  region  of  the  county.  At  San  Diego,  during  twenty  years,  of  the  7,304  days  5,768 
vere  clear  or  fair,  and  there  were  only  847  days  in  which  rain  fell.  During  seventeen 
7-ears,  out  of  the  6,205  days  there  were  only  199  when  the  temperature  rose  above  80°  and 
)nly  3  when  it  fell  to  32°.  Farther  inland  the  summer  climate  becomes  warmer.  On 
he  desert  it  is  very  hot  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  In  the  higher  mountain 
•egions  the  climate  is  bracing,  with  some  snow  in  winter,  and  a  heavy  rainfall.  The 
iverage  annual  rainfall  at  San  Diego  City  is  10  inches. 

Irrigation.— As  above  mentioned,  water  development  has  commenced  in  earnest 
luring  the  past  few  years.  There  are  nine  irrigation  districts  in  the  county,  some  of 
hem  of  great  extent,  their  total  capacity  being  2.50,000  acres.  The  Sweetwater  dam, 
)uilt  of  masonry,  has  a  capacity  of  6,000,000,000  gallons.  The  Ilemet  dam,  in  San 
lacinto  Valley,  is  110  feet  high,  and  the  reservoir  2  miles  long.  An  enterprise  is  now 
mder  way  for  tlie  irrigation  of  a  large  section  of  the  Colorado  Desert,  with  water  from 
he  Colorado  River.    There  are  a  number  of  artesian  wells  near  San  Jacinto. 

Agriculture.— Cereals  are  largely  produced  in  this  county.  In  1892  were  seeded: 
vheat,  24,270  acres;  oats,  2,737;  barley,  48,719;  corn,  2,225;  hay,  25,647.  Vegetables  can  be 
•aised  the  year  round.  Tomatoes  grow  all  winter.  There  are  no  figures  at  hand  to  show 
he  complete  agricultural  products.  All  of  the  county  back  of  the  coast  table  lands  up 
;o  5,000  feet  has  for  many  years  produced  large  crops  of  cereals  and  hay. 

A  large  project  is  on  foot  for  reclaiming  much  of  the  desert  land  of  the  eastern  portion 
)f  the  county.    The  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  has  sold  about  500,000  acres, 


60  ■      CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

including  the  noted  Salton  Lake,  to  a  company  of  New  York,  Chicago,  and  Denvei 
capitalists,  who  have  this  purpose  in  view. 

Horticulture.— All  fruits  can  be  grown  in  this  county— oranges,  lemons,  limes,  pine^ 
apples,  bananas,  guavas,  and  most  tropical  fruits,  and  all  the  deciduous  fruits  of  the 
temperate  zone.  In  San  Diego  Bay  region,  alone,  there  are  150,000  acres  of  practically 
frostless  lemon  land.  In  the  higher  altitudes  apples  are  grown,  where  also  pears,  plums, 
and  cherries  do  well.  In  the  lower  mesas  and  valleys  all  the  above  mentioned  tropical,! 
sub-tropical,  and  deciduous  fruits  thrive.  Among  them  may  be  named  the  cassava,  India 
rubber,  camphor,  and  guava.  Apples  are  grown  near  Julian,  3  miles  from  the  summit! 
of  the  great  mountain  divide.  On  the  Colorado  Desert  figs  and  grapes  ripen  in  May.; 
Caj  on  Valley,  last  year,  produced  2,600,000  pounds  of  raisins  from  3,000  acres  of  vineyard, 
mostly  young  vines,  yielding  a  revenue  of  .$100,000.  This  is  also  a  famous  lemon  and 
•orange  district.  There  are  five  large  packing  houses  and  several  small  ones  here.  Olive' 
oil  of  the  finest  quality  is  made  at  National  City.  Paradise  Valley,  on  National  ranch, 
is  famous  for  its  citrus  fruits.  San  Diego  produces  more  guavas  than  any  other  county 
in  the  State.  There  are  in  the  county  15,782  acres  of  fruit  trees  and  vines,  of  whichi 
12,795  are  bearing  and  2,987  not  bearing.  There  are  5,000  acres  of  grapes.  Raisins  of  the: 
finest  quality  are  made.  In  1892  there  were  shipped  4,6.36  tons  of  raisins  and  over  IOC 
carloads  of  oranges,  besides  large  quantities  of  green,  dried,  and  canned  fruits,  and  nuts,: 

Stock  Raising,  etc.— A  large  number  of  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep  are  raised  in  the; 
upper  altitudes,  where  grasses,  water,  and  shade  are  abundant  and  the  cereal  products! 
large.  The  Assessor  reports  11,590  horses,  34,639  cattle,  3,349  hogs,  573  mules,  .33,777  sheep 
3,055  goats,  and  2,379  dozen  poultry. 

Bees. — The  honey  product  of  this  county  is  famous,  the  bees  having  a  wide,  natural 
range.  The  annual  export  is  very  large,  amounting  to  500  tons  in  1892.  This  couutv 
leads  any  other  in  the  United  States  in  honej'. 

Minerals. — In  the  mountain  regions  there  is  much  mineral  wealth,  the  development: 
of  which  has  scarcely  commenced,  although  a  number  of  mines  have  been  producing; 
for  many  years.  There  are  three  distinct  gold  and  silver  regions— the  Julian,  Cargc; 
Muchacho,  and  Pinacate.  Within  the  boundaries  of  the  county  are  found  gold,  silverj 
tin,  copper,  lead,  coal,  gypsum,  asbestos,  mica,  ochre,  salt,  alum,  borax,  limestone,' 
pottery  clay,  iron,  quicksilver,  and  sulphur.    There  are  many  mineral  springs. 

Timber. — There  are  extensive  tracts  of  timber  in  the  higher  mountain  region.'^ 
chiefly  pine,  also  fir,  oak,  and  cedar.  The  most  important  timber  section  is  near  San 
Jacinto,  where  there  are  nearly  250  square  miles  of  forest  and  several  saw  mills. 

Transportation.— The  Southern  California  Railway,  of  the  Santa  Fe  system,  extends 
through  the  entire  length  of  the  county,  to  San  Diego  City  and  National  City,  with 
branches  to  San  Jacinto  and  Temecula.  The  northern  end  of  the  county  is  crossed  by 
the  Southern  Pacific.  There  is  also  a  branch  of  the  Southern  California  to  Escondido 
and  several  short  independent  lines  in  the  bay  region.  It  is  expected  that  a  direct  line 
from  San  Diego  to  Yuma  and  Phoenix,  in  Arizona,  will  soon  be  constructed.  The. 
Pacific  Coast  and  Pacific  Mail  steamships  call  regularly  at  San  Diego. 

SAN    FRANCISCO. 

San  Francisco  County  possesses  little  territory  outside  the  city  limits.  It  is  bounded; 
north  by  the  Golden  Gate,  the  entrance  to  the  finest  bay  and  harbor  in  the  world,  whicbi 
separates  it  from  Marin  County;  east  by  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  south  by  San  Mateo: 
County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  42  square  miles,  or  27,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  27,000  acres.  Total 
assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  !R412, 158,906.  Rates  of  taxation,  city  and  county,  1.00< 
State,  .434;  total,  1.434.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  9.82;  assessed  at  $111,830.  City  and, 
•county  property,  .$24,750,000.  City  and  county  debt,  $1,120,000.  Number  of  schools,  81 
School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  63,933.  School  money,  $1,243,334  38.  Popula 
tion,  census  of  1890,  297,990. 

Topography.- San  Francisco  occupies  the  northern  part  of  a  peninsula  lying  soutli 
•of  the  Golden  Gate,  and  forming,  together  witli  the  opposite  northern  peninsula  oi 
Marin  County,  the  narrow  land  barrier  between  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean.    Between  the  two  peninsulas  lies  the  channel  connecting  bay  and  ocean,  called 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


61 


the  "Golden  Gate,"  which  for  more  than  fifty  years  has  furnished  water  way  for  the 
freighted  argosies  of  all  nations.  The  northern  part  of  this  peninsula,  which  is  about 
30  miles  long  and  15  miles  broad  on  the  average,  is  occupied  by  the  City  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. Originally  it  consisted  of  wind-swept  hills,  the  shifting  sands  of  wiiich  seemed 
to  defy  either  stability  or  cultivation.  Now,  these  hills,  graded  by  pick  and  siiovel,  are 
gridironed  by  streets  and  railways,  and  crowned  with  magniticeut  buildings  of  a  popu- 
lous city,  or  transformed  by  the  magic  of  water  and  patient  tillage  into  miles  of  verdant 
park,  dotted  with  miniature  lakes,  ribboned  with  graveled  drives,  crowded  with  grottos, 
statuary,  conservatories,  and  ornamental  buildings,  enriched  with  luxuriant  siirubbery 
and  brilliant  flowers;  the  wonder  of  the  tourist  and  a  delight  to  her  contented  people. 

The  bay  extends  25  miles  north  and  40  miles  south  of  the  city,  with  an  average  width 
of  8  miles,  and  a  continuous  shore-line  of  300  miles.  Alcatraz  Island  stands  just  inside, 
commanding  "Golden  Gate,"  (Joat  Island,  between  the  city  and  the  Oakland  shore,  and 
Angel  Island,  off  the  point  of  the  northern  peninsula,  about  7  miles  above  the  city 
The  harbor  has  a  magnificent  entrance,  and  there  is  way  and  anchorage  inside  for  the 
commerce  of  the  world,  with  deep  water  for  the  largest  vessels  northward  through  San 
Pablo  and  Suisun  Bays  into  the  Sacramento  River  for  50  miles  above  the  city.  Steamers, 
ferries,  ships,  and  sail  vessels  run  inside  these  limits  across  to  San  Rafael,  San  Quentin, 
Sausalito,  and  Oakland  up  to  Port  Costa,  where  ship  and  rail  unite  for  heavy  trallic;  to 
Mare  Island,  the  location  of  the  Government  Navy  Yard;  to  Vallejo,  Henicia,  Napa,  Mar- 
tinez, Antioch;  up  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers  to  Sacramento  and  Stockton. 
Southward  lighter  draught  vessels  reach  all  points  of  the  shore-line. 

Climate.— San  Francisco  is  an  eminently  healthy  city.  It  is  not  recommended  for  a 
pale-cheeked  and  a  weak-lunged  people.  It  is  the  proper  home  of  active,  vigorous,  stir- 
ring, energetic  business  men,  for  rosy-cheeked  women  of  rounded  form  and  elastic  step, 
and  for  healthful,  robust  children.  The  climate  is  uniform.  Extremes  of  heat  and  cold 
are  unknown.  The  mean  temperature  of  July  is  59°,  and  of  January  50°.  To  people 
confined  during  summer  to  the  heated  interior  valleys  of  the  State,  the  tonic  effect  of  a 
few  days'  visit  to  San  Francisco  is  indescribable.  Tender  plants  thrive  the  year  round  in 
the  open  air,  and  outside  the  business  sections  all  the  better  dwellings  are  surrounded 
with  a  perennial  growth  of  lawn,  shrubbery,  and  flowers.  The  trade  winds  blow  steadily 
during  June,  July,  and  August,  and  during  summer  fogs  often  drift  in  early  in  the  even- 
ing and  remain  over  night.    "Winter  season  is  the  most  agreeable. 

Commerce. — The  .tide  of  commerce  has  always  poured  a  stream  of  wealth  into  the 
laps  of  the  cities  bj'  the  sea.  San  Francisco,  by  virtue  of  its  climate,  site,  rich  back- 
country,  and  harbor  scope  and  security,  is  naturally  better  equipped  for  a  commercial 
center  than  any  city  of  the  world.  The  beginnings  of  its  commerce  were  accidentally 
due  to  the  discovery  of  gold,  the  first  intelligence  of  which  was  brought  from  the  inte- 
rior in  the  spring  of  1848.  Since  then,  with  few  pauses,  and  fewer  periods  of  depression, 
she  has  steadily  and  rapidly  pressed  on  to  her  present  flattering  condition.  The  trade 
of  the  western  coast  from  Chile  to  Alaska  is  her  natural  heritage,  and  she  can  justly 
claim  a  fair,  large  share  from  China,  Japan,  India,  Australia,  and  the  islands  of  the  sea. 

The  following  tables  are  compiled  from  different  sources,  mainly  from  the  43d  annual 
report  of  the  San  Francisco  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  the  "Journal  of  Commerce,"  and 
give  some  idea  of  the  foreign  and  extra-State  trade  of  the  city: 


Entrances— 1892. 

Clearances— 1892. 

Deep-Watek  Vessels. 

Sail  Vessels. 

Steam  Vessels. 

Sail  Vessels. 

Steam  Vessels. 

No. 

Ton- 
nage. 

No. 

Ton- 
nage. 

No. 

Ton- 
nage. 

No. 

Ton- 
nage. 

Foreign 

627 
57 

670,409 
106,418 

309 
3 

483,321 
6,190 

585 
30 

639,339 
52,991 

309 
3 

493,.540 

Domestic  (Eastern) 

4,875 

Totals 

684 

776,827 

312 

488,511 

615 

692,330 

312 

498,415 

Total  sail  vessels,  1,299;  tonnage,  1,469,157.    Total  steam  vessels,  624;  tonnage,  986,926. 
Total  all  vessels,  1,923;  tonnage,  2,456,083. 


62  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES. 

Exports  of  Merchandise  by  Sea— 1892. 

Foreign  countries - $31,697,903 

New  York,  etc. 8,548,705 

Total.- - 140,246,608 

The  exports  include  the  following  articles:  Wheat,  $16,332,225;  flour,  $4,918,597;  barley, 
$1,400,000;  dried,  canned,  and  green  fruits,  $2,119,000;  wine  and  brandy,  $2,526,768;  salmon, 
$3,490,877;  wool,  $767,740;  lumber,  $600,000;  and  other  miscellaneous  items  amounting  to 
$8,091,401.  The  following  countries  are  represented:  Great  Britain,  China,  Hawaiian 
Islands,  lilexico,  British  Columbia,  France,  Belgium,  Central  America,  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  Japan,  Panama,  South  America,  Germany,  Asiatic  Russia,  East  Indies,  Pacific 

Islands,  etc. 

Exports  of  Treasure  to  Foreign  Countries  for  1892. 

Silver  coin  and  bullion -- $13,699,153 

Gold  coin  and  gold  dust - - 876,635 

Currency  and  unspecified 790 

Total... - -- ---  $14,576,578 

Overland  exports  of  treasure  for  1892,  $5,273,804.  Combined  exports  of  treasure  and 
merchandise  for  1892,  exclusive  of  merchandise  by  rail,  $60,096,990.  Merchandise  exports 
by  rail,  so  far  as  known,  total  pounds,  367,486,000.  Accounted  for  in  value,  324,878,939 
pounds,  or  $24,160,447,  including  the  following  articles:  Green,  canned,  and  dried  fruits, 
nuts  and  raisins,  $2,673,640;  wine,  $2,680,132;  brandy,  $873,465;  salmon,  $800,000;  wool, 
$3,730,690;  hops,  $130,620;  sugar,  $7,000,000;  tea,  $3,371,300;  coffee,  $936,600;  beans,  $956,000; 
quicksilver,  $8.55,000;  honey,  .$95,000;  rice,  .$58,000.  Other  articles  of  merchandise  exported 
by  rail,  for  which  no  figures  are  accessible,  include  hides  and  leather,  whalebone  and  oil, 
powder,  fuse,  glue,  malt,  sulphur,  borax,  syrup,  furs,  silks,  vegetables,  etc.,  and  treasure 
not  included  in  Chamber  of  Commerce  reports,  representing  a  total  of  about  $22,000,000. 
Total  exports,  foreign  and  domestic,  about  $106,257,437.  Distributed  to  the  interior  trade, 
$20,000,000. 

Imports  for  1892. 

By  sea  from  foreign  countries,  merchandise.. .  $42,701,005 

By  rail  from  foreign  countries,  merchandise 2,906,945 

Total $45,607,950 

Foreign  treasure;  by  sea .. 8,990,386 

Total  foreign  imports $54,598,.336 

The  merchandise  imported  includes  sugar,  $12,000,000;  coffee,  $2,815,000;  coal,  $5,1.36,000; 
rice,  $825,000;  tea,  $1,300,000;  and  a  large  number  of  miscellaneous  articles,  aggregating 
$22,531,950. 

Receipts  of  domestic  merchandise  for  1892  approximate  as  follows: 

Overland  rail $18,500,000 

Steam  and  clipper,  Oregon  and  coast  15,000,000 

California  products  received  from  the  interior,  including  cereals, 
fruits,  lumber,  wool,  raisins,  wine,  brandy,  coal,  salmon,  potatoes, 
dairy  products,  etc 35,000,000 

Total  receipts  of  domestic  merchandise $68,.500,000 

Summary. 

Exports,  foreign ' $60,096,990 

Exports,  Eastern,  bv  rail 46,160,447 

Distributed  to  interior  points 20,000,000 

Total  shipments $126,257.437 

Imports,  foreign $54,598,336 

Imports,  Eastern 18,500,000 

Imports,  steam  and  clipper,  Oregon  and  coast 1.5,000,000 

Imports,  California  products  from  interior... 35,000,000 

Total  receipts $123,098,336 

Total  shipments 126,257,437 

Total  commerce $249,355,773 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HKR     KESOURCES.  63 

Manufactures.— According  to  the  report  of  the  Assessor  for  1892,  San  Francisco  has 
1,409  manufacturing  establishments,  with  29,399  employ<5s,  which  turned  out  a  product 
for  1892  valued  at  |S0,G7(J,800. 

Banks,  etc.— The  banking  institutions  of  San  Francisco  January  1,  1893,  are:  10  sav- 
ings banks,  with  resources  of  $115,932,2-15;  15  commercial  banks,  with  resources  of  $74,- 
642,G71;  2  national  banks,  with  resources  of  $9,457,183;  total  bank  resources,  $200,032,099. 
Bank  clearings  for  1892,  $815,368,724.  There  are  56  mutual  associations,  in  which  the 
payments  by  members  amount  to  $1,500,000  annually. 

Miscellaneous  Items.— :Mint  coinage,  1892,  $23,310,604.  Internal  revenue  collections, 
1892,  $1,818,351.  Customs  receipts,  1892,  $7,822,046.  Keal  estate  sales,  1892,  $20,518,955. 
Mortgages  made,  1892,  $16,060,918.  iMortgages  released,  1892,  $10,315,614.  Dividends  paid 
by  64  incorporations,  1892,  $7,831,162.  San  Francisco  is  the  second  whaling  port  of  the 
world;  whaling  catch  of  her  lleet  for  1892,  $1,250,000.  Passenger  travel  for  1892  by  rail  and 
steamship  was,  arrivals,  100,000;  departures,  70,000. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.— The  Chamber  of  Commerce  was  organized  in  1851,  and  has 
always  been  actively  devoted  to  the  commercial  and  financial  interests  of  the  city. 
It  has  a  membership  of  307,  which  embraces  the  leading  business  men  of  San  Francisco. 
Its  forty-third  annual  report  is  a  mine  of  commercial  information. 

Insurance. — The  Insurance  Commissioner's  report  shows  the  following  business  of 
San  Francisco  companies  and  agencies  for  1892:  Fire  insurance— written,  $378,529,166; 
premiums,  $6,669,998  72;  losses  paid,  $2,408,156  05.  Marine  insurance— written,  $163,305,- 
218;  premiums,  $1,927,088  44;  losses  paid,  $736,735  18. 

Public  Buildings.— The  City  Hall,  fronting  550  feet  on  Larkin  Street,  700  on  McAllister 
Street,  and  860  on  Park  Avenue,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  costliest  buildings  in  the 
country.  It  is  96  feet  high,  and  when  completed  will  be  surmounted  by  a  tower  450  feet 
high.  The  cost  is  about  $6,000,000.  The  United  States  Mint  is  the  largest  in  the  United 
States,  with  217  feet  on  Fifth  Street,  and  161  feet  on  Mission  Street.  It  is  in  the  Doric 
style,  and  is  built  of  freestone  and  California  granite.  The  new  Post  Oflice  will  be  built 
on  the  site  recently  purchased  by  the  Government  at  Seventh  and  Mission,  and  is  likely 
to  be  the  handsomest  public  building  in  the  city.  It  will  doubtless  cost  over  $3,000,000. 
The  Harbor  Commissioners  have  commenced  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street  the  erection 
of  a  ferry  building  for  passengers  and  freight,  which  will  cost  over  $600,000— and  will 
accommodate  all  the  large  overland  and  local  business  concentrated  at  that  point. 
There  are  also  to  be  noted  the  Merchants'  Exchange,  the  Acadeniy  of  Sciences  building, 
among  many  of  like  public  character. 

Water,  Gas,  and  Electrical  Works.— The  city  is  supplied  with  water  by  the  Spring 
Valley  Water  Company,  whose  storage  reservoirs,  located  in  San  ^lateo  and  Santa  Clara 
Counties,  have  a  joint  capacity  of  70,000,000,000  gallons  and  a  water  catchment  area  of 
360  square  miles,  and  whose  system  of  dams,  pumping  works,  and  mains  is  as  perfect 
as  expense  and  scientific  engineering  can  render  it.  The  San  Francisco  Gaslight  Com- 
pany's works  are  located  at  Fifth  and  Howard  and  at  North  Beach.  The  new  works  at 
the  latter  place  are  of  immense  capacity  and  embrace  all  the  latest  improvements  in 
manufacture,  machinery,  and  storage.  The  city  is  also  abundantly  provided  with 
incandescent  and  arc  lights,  for  streets,  stores,  and  dwellings,  furnished  by  i)rivate 
corporations.    Some  hotels  and  business  buildings  manufacture  their  own  electric  liglits. 

Hotels. — No  city  in  the  Union  is  better  jirovided  with  elegant  and  costly  hotels. 
Among  the  most  noted  are  the  Palace,  of  seven  stories,  costing  .$7,000,000;  the  Baldwin, 
Grand,  Lick,  Occidental,  California,  Russ,  and  many  others.  The  city  is  also  abundantly 
supplied  with  new,  elegant,  modern  family  hotels,  accommodating  all  the  way  from  fifty 
to  three  hundred  boarders  each,  sumptuously  furnished,  entirely  distinct  from  the  com- 
mercial hotels,  and  affording  to  people  of  means  all  the  advantages  of  home  life.  In  the 
city  are  116  hotels,  260  family  boarding  houses,  350  restaurants,  and  (JOO  lodging  houses. 

Theaters.— San  Francisco  has  her  full  quota  of  theaters,  prominent  among  which  are 
the  Baldwin,  California,  Stockwell's,  Alcazar,  Tivoli,  Bush  Street,  Grand  Opera  House, 
Bijou,  and  Orpheura. 

Clubs.— There  are  69  clubs,  athletic,  social,  literary,  political,  etc.,  many  of  them  hav- 
ing elegant  buildings  and  apartments,  among  which  maybe  mentioned  the  Olympic 
Club,  with  its  new  building  on  Post  between  Mason  and  Taylor,  the  Pacific,  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Corinthian  Yacht  Clubs,  the  Bohemian,  Pacific  Union,  Cosmos,  Concordia, 


64  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Press  Club,  University,  Country,  ^lerchants,  Yale,  Loring,  Cercle  Frangais,  San  Fran- 
cisco Verein,  California  Pioneers,  etc. 

Fraternal  Societies.— The  city,  which  is  most  favorable  ground  for  fraternal  organ- 
izations, contains  at  the  present  time  Masons,  with  IG  lodges,  2  chapters,  1  council,  and 
2  commanderies;  Odd  Fellows,  43  lodges;  Knights  of  Pythias,  22  lodges;  Knights 
of  Honor,  23  lodges;  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  13  tribes;  Independent  Order  of  Red 
Men,  9  organizations;  Order  of  Herman's  Sons,  10  lodges;  A.  0.  U.  W.,  26  lodges: 
American  Legion  of  Honor,  13  councils;  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters,  28  courts; 
Companions  of  the  Forest,  12  circles;  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters  of  America,  34 
courts  and  17  Companions  of  the  Forest;  Order  of  Chosen  Friends,  26  lodges;  Ancient 
Order  of  Druids,  18  branches;  B'nai  E'rith,  10  lodges;  Order  of  Kesher  Shel  Barzel, 
4  lodges,  etc.  There  are  besides  these  numerous  other  benevolent  and  fraternal  organ- 
izations with  various  aims  and  large  membership. 

Churclies.— The  city  contains  114  church  organizations,  all  provided  with  houses  of 
worship,  many  of  them  of  elegant  design  and  magnificent  proportions.  The  Jesuit 
Society  of  St.  Ignatius  has  the  largest  and  most  expensive  church  edifice  in  the  city.  Its 
spires  are  275  feet  high,  and  its  church  hall  will  accommodate  6,000  people.  Associated 
with  and  controlled  by  the  churches,  as  well  as  operated  independent  of  them,  are 
many  benevolent  and  charitable  societies  and  organizations,  which  accomplish  an 
immense  amount  of  good  among  the  destitute  and  needy.  These  include  such  prac- 
tical charities  as  cheap  boarding  and  lodging  houses  and  restaurants  for  men  and 
women,  homes  for  girls  and  aged  women,  hospitals,  orphan  asylums,  and  many  other 
provisions  for  the  poor. 

Schools. — There  are  81  public  schools  in  San  Francisco.  The  school  property  is 
worth  $4,932,754.  There  are  46,172  scholars,  and  the  annual  expenditure  is  |1,098,838.  i 
Highest  monthly  salary  paid,  $250;  lowest,  $50.  There  are  also  about  100  private 
schools,  academies,  seminaries,  business  colleges,  etc.  No  city  in  the  Union  is  better 
provided  with  educational  institutions,  or  contributes  to  their  support  with  more 
princely  generosity. 

Kindergartens. — The  following  kindergartens  are  carried  on:  The  First  Congrega- 
tional; Pioneer,  4;  Silver  Street,  3;  Golden.Gate  Association,  35;  and  have  trained  14,346 
children,  and  contributed  $400,000,  including  endowments.  Commercial  organizations 
support  5  kindergartens,  viz.:  Produce  Exchange,  insurance  companies,  merchants,  I 
attorneys,  and  real  estate  agents.  Here  the  children  are  taught  thrift,  economy,  Indus-  • 
try,  and  hygiene.  Sixty-five  thousand  reports  have  been  scattered;  letters  are  received  j 
from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  the  good  work  accomplished  is  a  credit  to  the  city,  and 
of  no  insignificant  contribution  to  its  own  material  prosperity. 

Bureaus  of  Mines,  Sciences,  Art,  and  Horticulture.— Among  educational  institu- 
tions, or  largely  contributory  thereto,  may  be  mentioned  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association;  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  free  to  the  public,  with  its  choice  collections  in 
mineralogy,  conchologj^  and  zoology;  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  with  10,000  specimens  of 
ores,  minerals,  antiquarian  relics,  collection  of  California  birds,  and  other  curiosities; 
and  the  San  Francisco  Art  Association,  devoted  to  painting,  sculpture,  and  kindred  arts. 
The  California  State  Board  of  Trade,  sustained  by  business  men  of  San  Francisco  in: 
conjunction  with  outside  counties  of  the  State,  maintains  a  permanent  free  exhibit, 
open  to  the  public,  of  all  the  fruits,  nuts,  cereals,  and  other  products  of  California  soil, 
and  furnishes  free  information  to  all. seekers  after  knowledge  about  the  State  and  its 
topography,  soils,  climate,  and  products. 

Libraries.- There  are  9  public  libraries.    The  Free  Library,  in  the  City  Hall,  contaiii  -^ 
75,000  volumes;  the  Mercantile  Library,  on  Van  Ness  Avenue,  about  60,000;  the  Inw 
Library,  in  the  City  Hall,  28,000;  the  Odd  Fellows'  Library,  41,000;  Mechanics'  Institme 
Library,  35,000,  besides  maintaining  an  annual  exhibition  in  its  large  Fair  buiW; 
etc.    One  private  library,  the  Sutro,  contains  85,000  volumes. 

Newspapers  and  Periodicals. — Xo  State  in  the  Union  has  so  many  newspaper 
proportion  to  its  population,  and  San  Francisco  is  most  liberally  endowed.  There  aie 
15  dailies,  among  them  the  Chronicle,  Examiner,  Call,  Bulletin,  Post,  and  Report,  most 
widely  known,  and  whose  joint  influence  has  been  constantly  exerted  and  widely  felt  in 
urging  the  develoi)nient  and  advertising  the  resources  of  the  State.  Besides  these  there' 
are  19  monthly  publications,  and  164  weeklies  and  semi-weeklies.     There  are  also  3 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOl'RCES.  65 

agricultural  and  horticultural  weekly  papers.    Some  of  the  magazines  and  weeklies 
have  a  wide  circulation  in  the  East  and  in  Europe. 

Transportation.— In  the  matter  of  street  railways,  no  city  in  the  Union  is  so  well 
provided  for.  There  are  92  miles  of  cahle  road  in  operation,  radiating  from  the  foot  of 
Market  Street  to  every  part  of  the  city,  and  to  the  Cliff  House,  Sutro  Heights,  the 
Golden  Gate  Park,  Presidio,  the  General  Railway  Ofhces  at  Fourth  and  Town.send,  and 
along  all  the  leading  streets  of  the  city.  Several  electric  roads  are  also  in  operation, 
one  of  which  is  extended  to  South  San  Francisco,  and  will  press  on  southward  into  San 
Mateo  County. 

Fire  Department.— The  efficiency  of  the  San  Francisco  Fire  Department  is  well  known. 
The  present  force  consists  of  320  officers,  17  steamers,  19  hose  reels,  8  hose  carriages,  7 
hook  and  ladder  trucks,  72  horses,  28,000  feet  of  hose,  1,392  hydrants,  and  55  cisterns. 
The  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph  Department  has  200  automatic  signal  boxes  and  IGO  miles 
of  wire. 

New  Business  Blocks. — Among  the  new  business  buildings  of  San  Francisco  may  be 
mentioned  the  Chronicle,  Crocker,  Mills,  and  New  York  Mutual  Life  Insurance  build- 
ings, ten  and  eleven  stories  high,  built  with  steel  skeleton  and  hollow  tile  arches,  and 
adorned  with  granite,  marble,  onyx,  pressed  brick,  and  terra  cotta,  proving  that  Cali- 
fornia quarries  are  rich  in  the  best  building  materials.  The  Pacific  Mutual  Insurance 
Company  has  built  a  splendid  building  of  granite  and  pressed  brick,  with  high  ornamen- 
tation and  interior  finish.  The  Hibemia  one-story  bank  building,  constructed  of  white 
granite,  with  Corinthian  columns,  and  in  purely  classic  style,  is  one  of  the  most  elegant 
bank  structures  in  the  country.  Many  other  line  buildings  have  been  completed  the 
past  year,  or  are  now  in  course  of  construction,  all  abundantly  demonstrating  that 
this  isolated  Western  metropolis  is  not  willing  to  lag  behind  her  Eastern  sisters  in  the 
expense  lavished  on  her  buildings  or  in  the  style  of  her  architecture. 

Government  Reservations,  etc. — The  Presidio  overlooks  the  bay  and  harbor  entrance 
about  58  feet  above  the  sea.  The  area  of  the  reservation  is  1,382.22  acres.  It  is  beauti- 
fully laid  out  and  planted  with  350,000  trees,  and  contains  a  national  cemetery.  Power- 
ful and  complete  modern  defensive  works,  covering  the  harbor  approaches,  are  now  in 
course  of  construction,  to  replace  the  older  inefficient  works. 

Fort  Mason,  called  "Black  Point,"  contains  about  55  acres,  the  highest  point  about 
125  feet  elevation.  It  is  an  artillery  post,  garrisoned  by  one  battery,  the  armament 
consisting  of  seacoast  guns  and  a  "plant"  for  torpedo  defense.  This  post,  from  its  site 
and  view,  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  in  the  country. 

Alcatraz  Island,  commanding  the  Golden  Gate,  and  Angel  Island,  lying  about  7  miles 
northeast  of  the  city,  are  also  Government  properties,  garrisoned  by  artillery.  Angel 
Island  has  10  acres  set  apart  to  the  Treasury  Department  as  a  quarantine  station. 

General  Railroad  Ofiaces.— The  Southern  Pacific's  general  offices  are  located  at  their 
large  building,  corner  Fourth  and  Townsend  Streets,  from  which  center  are  operated  all 
the  complicated  interests  and  business  affairs  of  their  great  railway  system.  The  build- 
ing is  a  complete  city  by  itself,  and  a  hive  of  industry. 

Public  Parks.— There  are  about  30  public  parks  and  ornamented  plazas  in  the 
city.  The  largest  of  these,  and  the  pride  of  San  Franciscans,  is  Golden  Gate  Park.  It 
covers  an  area  of  over  1,000  acres.  All  cable  and  electric  cars  run  here  from  all  parts  of 
the  city  for  a  5-cent  fare.  Not  much  inferior  to  this  and  easily  accessible  from  it  and 
from  the  city  is  Sutro  Heights  and  the  Cliff  House,  with  its  Seal  Rock.  Immense  sums 
have  been  spent  here  by  a  private  citizen,  but  the  grounds  are  freely  open  to  the  public, 
and  constitute  the  daily  delight  of  thousands.  Here  are  in  course  of  erection  tlie  finest 
batli  houses  and  natatorium  in  the  United  States,  close  upon  the  ocean  surf,  fed  with 
fresh  water  by  the  rise  of  every  tide,  roofed  in  with  glass,  and  brilliant  with  a  tliousand 
colored  lights. 

AVith  all  its  extended  business  advantages,  its  broad  religious  and  educational  j)ro- 
visions,  its  unparalleled  climate  and  magnificent  natural  scenery,  its  cheap  and  rapid 
transportation,  its  abundant  facilities,  for  amusement  and  recreation,  its  most  varied 
and  low-priced  food  markets  and  cheap  homes,  and  its  profuse  supply  of  all  the  luxu- 
ries, as  well  as  the  economical  comforts  of  living,  San  Francisco  presents  attractions  for 
the  capitalist,  the  tourist,  the  business  man,  and  the  home-seeker  not  to  be  found  else- 
where in  the  world. 
5 


t)D  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

SAN    JOAQUIN. 

San  Joaquin  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Sacramento,  east  by  Amador,  Cala- 
veras, and  Stanislaus,  south  by  Stanislaus,  and  west  by  Alameda  and  Contra  Costa 
Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,370  square  miles,  or  876,800  acres.  Lands  assessed,  868,406.62  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $39,929,385.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county, 
1.05.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  138.66;  assessed  at  $1,717,923.  County  property, 
$712,000.  County  debt,  $235,000.  Number  of  schools,  132.  School  children  between  5 
and  17  years,  6,865.    School  money,  $162,138  20.    Population,  census  of  1890,  28,576. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Stockton,  the  county  seat,  population  between 
18,000  and  20,000,  is  situated  on  a  navigable  channel  which  joins  the  San  Joaquin  River 
three  miles  from  the  city.    It  is  the  natural  entrepot  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  the 
seventh  city  in  population  in  the  State,  and  very  important  in  manufacturing  industries, 
as  the  following  report  of  the  output  in  1892  shows:  Flour  mills  (4),  $7,850,000;  agricultural  ; 
implement  factories  (6),  $1,500,000;   planing  mills  (4),  .$669,625;   foundries  (4),  $207,000;  i 
carriage  factories  (3),  $190,000;   wine  and  brandy,  $262,000;  furniture,  $60,000;  terra  cotta  i 
and  brick,  $91,000;   soda  water,  $90,000;   woolen  mills,  $350,000;   tannery,  $390,000;   paper  ; 
mills,  $330,000;  windmills,  $100,000;  all  other  factories,  $595,000;  total,  $12,714,625.    These  ■ 
factories  employed  1,599  men,   and  paid  $l,251,2'i3  for  wages;  average  per  workman,  j 
$782  50,  or  over  $65  a  month.    The  flour  mills  have  a  capacity  of  9,000  barrels  daily,  j 
Stockton  has  fifteen  natural  gas  wells,  yielding  from  25,000  to  100,000  cubic  feet  each  ] 
daily.    This  gas  is  extensively  used  for  both  light  and  heat.    It  is  found  from  800  to  i 
1,200  feet  below  the  surface.    Its  transportation  facilities  are  abundant;  22  steamers  and 
20  barges  are  constantly  plying  the  rivers  between  Stockton,  San  Francisco,  and  interior 
points,  two  lines  running  daily  between  Stockton  and  San  Francisco.    They  carried  in 
1892  over  50,000  passengers  and  650,000  tons  of  freight.     It  is  also  connected  by  the  ■ 
branches  of  the  Southern  Pacific  with  Sacramento,  San  Francisco  by  two  routes,  all  i 
points  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  with  Oakdale,  and  Milton  and  Valley  Springs  in  the  ! 
foothills.    It  is  a  terminal  shipping  point  to  and  from  the  East;  22  trains  leave  daily,  i 
The  city  is  well  provided  with  good  roads,  perfect  sewer  system,  gas  and  electric  light ; 
works,  electric  street  railways,  one  of  which   may  be  extended  to  Lodi  this  season,  ' 
elegant  county  buildings,  splendid  agricultural  fair  pavilion,  a  kite-shaped  race  track,  ! 
magnificent  opera  house,  fine  public  school  buildings  and   public  library  of  17,000 ! 
volumes,  and  a  bequest  of  $75,000  for  a  new  library  building,   five  banks  of  large  1 
resources,  two  daily  and  five  weekly  newspapers,  many  elegant  churches,  an  excellent  i 
water  supply,  a  death  rate  of  only  15.4  in  1,000,  many  fine  hotels  and  business  build- ; 
ings,  and  all  other  features  of  a  healthy,  energetic,  prosperous  modern  city.    Among 
other  towns  of  the  county  are  Lodi,  with  bank,  flour  mill,  two  newspapers,  the  center 
of  a  large  grain,  fruit,  and  melon  district;  Lathrop,  Banta,  Ellis,  Holden,  Woodbridge, 
Peters,  Ripon,  Clement,  New  Hope,  Lockeford,  and  Linden. 

Topography  and  Soil. — San  Joaquin  County  extends  from  the  hills  of  the  Coast 
Range  on  the  southwest  to  the  plains  of  the  Cosumnes  River  on  the  north,  and  to  the  ' 
base  of  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  on  the  east.  In  the  northwest,  along  tlie- 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers,  are  large  tracts  of  tule  land,  and  throughout  this 
region  are  numerous  immensely  fertile  islands,  subject  to  overflow,  and  such  as  are 
reclaimed  by  levees  are  under  cultivation.  In  the  north  are  sandy  lands,  and  between 
them  and  the  tule  lands  a  broad  belt  of  black  loam  and  adobe.  The  low  lands  forming 
this  delta  contain  about  150,000  acres  under  cultivation.  They  comprise  altogether  one 
fifth  of  the  lands  of  the  county.  From  Stockton  eastward  to  Linden,  Lockeford,  and 
Lodi  is  a  large  level  tract  of  very  fertile  strong  soil,  somewhat  adobe,  excellent  for 
cereals,  vegetables,  and  fruits.  Most  of  the  county  is  level  land,  excepting  the  small . 
foothill  tract  referred  to.  Its  rivers  are  the  Sacramento,  San  Joaquin,  Calaveras,  Mokel- 
umne,  and  Stanislaus. 

Climate.— The  climate  of  Stockton  is  almost  exactly  like  that  of  Naples  in  Italy. 
The  temperature  of  July  and  August  frequently  passes  the  100°  mark,  the  nights  being 
cool  and  refreshing.  In  winter  the  mercury  sometimes  drops  to  a  little  below  32°.  The 
general  climate  is  much  moderated  by  the  influence  of  ocean  breezes  coming  up  the 
river  and  bay  channels.    The  annual  rainfall  is  about  14.1  inches. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEK     RESOURCES.  67 

Irrigation. — For  its  magnilicent  crops  of  cereals  and  hay  the  county  needs  no  irriga- 
tion, nor  for  the  immense  yields  of  vegetables  and  melons  on  the  moist  lower  lands.  To 
obtain  the  best  results,  however,  in  fruit,  vineyard,  berry,  vegetable,  and  melon  culture, 
the  discrete  use  of  water  is  demanded,  and  to  meet  this  demand  extensive  systems  are 
now  inaugurated,  and  will  soon  be  put  into  operation.  The  Woodbridge  Canal  has  a 
capacity  to  supply  nearly  60,000  acres.  The  San  Jacinto  Land  and  Water  Company  is 
constructing  works  to  cover  300,000  acres;  li;250,000  has  already  been  expended,  and  the 
work  will  be  completed  in  eighteen  months.  A  proposition  is  on  foot  to  utilize  the  Cal- 
averas River  to  cover  80,000  acres  more,  and  eventually  it  is  expected  that  more  than 
half  the  acreage  of  the  county  will  be  covered  by  the  entire  systems  constructed. 
Artesian  water  can  be  found  almost  anywhere  at  about  500  feet  depth. 

Agriculture.— San  Joaquin  is  one  of  the  great  grain-producing  sections;  40  or  50 
bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre  is  no  unusual  yield,  while  barley  has  yielded  as  high  as 
60  bushels.  The  average  annual  wheat  crop  is  about  4,000,000  bushels.  The  following 
acreage  for  1892  is  reported  for  various  crops:  Wheat,  275,018;  barley,  74,142;  oats,  3o0; 
corn,  195;  hay,  10,365.  Alfalfa  is  a  large,  reliable,  and  valuable  crop  for  hogs  and  cattle, 
and  two  to  three  crops  grow  annually  without  artificial  watering.  Many  tons  of  vegeta- 
bles are  also  raised  in  the  county. 

Horticulture.  — Horticulture  is  rapidly  becoming  a  leading  industry.  The  total 
area  in  fruit  now  amounts  to  5,980  acres— 3,567  bearing  and  2,413  not  bearing.  The 
leading  varieties  are  indicated  by  the  following  list  of  trees  in  the  county:  Peach,  82,956 
trees;  apricot,  69,270;  almond,  85,149;  prune,  51,022;  pear,  37,880;  cherry,  11,071;  fig,  11,908; 
olive,  8,844;  apple,  7,490;  orange,  5,765;  walnut,  5,221.  There  are  besides  1,880  acres  of 
grapes.  Most  all  of  these  are  comparatively  recent  plantings.  San  Joaquin  will  soon 
take  a  front  rank  among  the  fruit-raising  counties.  Notwithstanding  its  youth  in  this 
industry,  the  county  boasts  of  the  largest  continuous  orchard  in  the  world  under  one 
management,  containing  3,200  acres,  planted  to  nuts  and  fruits,  citrus  and  deciduous. 
The  exact  figures  of  fruit  shipments  from  Stockton  for  1892  are  not  at  hand,  but  they 
are  known  to  be  greatly  in  excess  of  1891,  which  amounted  to  650  tons.  Hundreds  of 
carloads  of  watermelons  are  shipped  annually  from  Lodi  and  other  points.  Canneries 
are  greatly  needed  in  Stockton.  Justice  would  not  be  done  to  this  prosperous  county 
without  especial  reference  to  its  large  and  valuable  product  of  table  and  wine  grapes, 
and  its  output  of  first-class  wines  and  brandies.  The  Tokay,  Emperor,  Cornichon,  and 
Muscat  grapes  are  raised  and  shipped  East  for  table  use,  and  the  best  varieties  of  grapes 
for  the  manufacture  of  wines;  about  one  third  of  the  vineyard  acreage  is  devoted  to  the 
Muscat  grape  for  raisins,  of  which  product  over  10,000  boxes  are  shipped  annually,  the 
quality  being  fully  equal  to  any  produced  elsewhere. 

Stock  Raising,  etc. — The  conditions  for  stock  raising  in  this  county  are  of  the  best, 
and  that  they  are  extensively  utilized  is  abundantly  proved  by  the  Assessor's  report  for 
1892,  showing,  horses,  21,901;  cattle,  28,622;  hogs,  11,182;  mules,  2,941;  sheep,  41,852;  poultry, 
6,815  dozen.  All  the  Assessor's  figures  for  the  State  in  this  connection  are  very  conser- 
vative, but  they  serve  well  to  make  comparison  of  the  relative  importance  of  the  various 
counties  in  this  industry. 

Prices  of  Land. — The  development  of  San  Joaquin  County  has  always  been  constant, 
and  "boom  "  figures  have  never  been  placed  on  its  fertile  acres.  Foothill  lands,  suitable 
for  fruit,  can  be  bought  for  from  $10  to  $25  an  acre,  while  the  valley  lands  bring  all  the 
way  from  $20  to  $50,  according  to  locality.  Of  course  this  is  for  lands  entirely  unim- 
proved and  not  too  near  the  cities  of  Stockton,  Lodi,  Acampo,  and  other  fruit  centers. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  to  one  seeking  the  best  of  soils,  a  genial,  winterless  climate, 
excellent  transportation  facilities,  the  neighborhood  of  a  large  manufacturing  center, 
association  with  a  live  business  community,  and  enjoyment  of  the  best  educational 
advantages,  San  Joaquin  County  offers  great  inducements,  and  on  the  most  reasonable 
terras. 

SAN    LUIS    OBISPO. 

San  Luis  Obispo  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Monterey  County,  east  by  Kern, 
south  by  Santa  Barbara,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  3,578  square  miles,  or  2,289,920  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
250,000  acres.    Lands  assessed,  1,429,680  acres.    Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 


68  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

$15,278,939.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.25.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  72.70; 
assessed  at  $513,345.  County  property,  $135,000.  County  debt,  $153,000.  Number  of 
schools,  106.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,957.  School  money,  $92,651  45. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  16,176. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — San  Luis  Obispo,  the  county  seat,  population 
about  3,000,  is  located  about  8  miles  from  its  harbor  town  of  Port  Harford,  with  which 
it  is  connected  by  rail.  It  has  tine  county  buildings,  elegant  and  costly  hotels,  excellent 
streets,  new  sewer  system,  five  churches,  daily  and  weekly  newspapers,  three  banks,  with 
over  $1,000,000  deposits,  flour  mills,  and  fine  substantial  business  blocks.  Before  long 
the  gap  in  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  will  be  closed,  which  will  give  it  the  benefit  of 
the  through  coast  route  from  San  Francisco  to  Los  Angeles. 

Paso  Robles  is  also  a  prosperous  town  on  the  railroad  line  from  San  Francisco,  in 
the  upper  Salinas  Valley,  and  has  about  1,000  population,  a  bank,  a  noted  hotel,  the 
resort  of  invalids  and  tourists,  hot  sulphur  and  mud  springs,  two  newspapers,  schools, 
churches,  mills,  and  large  grain  warehouses.  A  new  and  extensive  water  system  will 
soon  be  introduced  by  the  Crystal  Spring  Water  Company.  Near  by  is  one  of  the 
experiment  stations  of  the  United  States. 

Templeton  has  a  bank,  schools,  churches,  newspapers,  grain  warehouses,  etc.  Other 
important  places  are  San  Miguel,  Arroyo  Grande,  Port  Harford,  and  Santa  Margarita, 
the  present  railroad  terminus.  Port  Harford  has  regular  steamer  connection  with  San 
Francisco  and  Los  Angeles. 

Topography.— The  county  is  divided  into  two  parts  by  a  low  range  of  mountains, 
running  from  northwest  to  southeast,  leaving  one  third  on  the  coast  and  two  thirds  in 
the  interior.  This  range  gives  abundant  water  to  the  county.  Springs  are  numerous 
from  base  to  summit,  and  many  perennial  streams  run  through  deep  vallej's  down 
either  slope.  The  largest  of  these  streams  on  the  western  slope  are  San  Simeon,  Santa 
Rosa,  Villa,  Old  Creek,  Morro,  Chorro,  Arroyo  Grande,  Suez,  Huasna,  Alamo,  and 
Cuyama.  On  the  northeast  slope  are  Salinas  River  and  branches,  San  Juan  from  the 
east,  Santa  Margarita,  Atascadero,  Paso  Robles,  San  Marcos,  etc.  West  of  the  Santa 
Lucia  range  of  mountains  is  the  coast  region,  a  broad  area  of  foothills  and  valleys, 
the  latter  some  thirteen  in  number,  while  to  the  east  are  the  larger  valleys  of  San  Jos6, 
Santa  Margarita,  Salinas,  Estrella,  and  others. 

Soils.— The  soil  on  the  coast  is  deep  and  fertile,  alternating  adobe  and  sandy.  The 
eastern  portion  is  deep,  rich,  sandy  loam,  with  traces  of  adobe,  and  both  sections  are  of 
the  best  quality,  even  to  the  hilltops.  In  the  foothills  the  red  lands  prevail,  easily 
worked,  and  very  productive. 

Climate. — Along  the  coast  frost  is  rarely  seen— in  many  places  never— yet  grapes  do 
not  ripen  well  nor  oranges  grow  successfully  on  the  coast,  but  there  is  a  distinct  thermal  , 
belt,  altitude  100  to  600  feet,  east  and  north  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  unknown  to  frost.  The 
most  delicious  oranges  grow  in  this  belt.  The  interior  valleys  have  a  similar  climate  to 
the  famous  Salinas  Valley  of  Monterey.  The  average  temperature  of  San  Luis  ObisjM,, 
near  the  coast,  varies  little  winter  and  summer,  ranging  from  an  average  of  54°  to  an 
average  of  62°.  The  interior  valleys  range  from  extremes  of  32°  in  winter  to  lOu'  ni 
summer,  though  such  extremes  are  rare,  but  the  average  winter  and  average  sumiutT 
show  much  smaller  differences.    The  average  annual  rainfall  is  21.07  inches. 

Agriculture.— All   the   cereal  crops  are  grown  on  the  uplands.    Potatoes,  beans, 
squasli,  cabbage,  onions,  tomatoes,  and  other  vegetables  are  grown  extensively  and  attain 
enormous  size.     Reans  figure  largely  among  the  exports  of  the  county.    The  wheat 
shipments  along  the  railroad  from  Paso  Robles,  Templeton,  and  San  Miguel  are  very  ; 
large.    The  wheat  of  this  section  bears  a  very  high  reputation  for  fine  quality  and  high  i 
percentage  of  flour.    Acreage  sown  in  1892,  wheat,  125,750;   oats,  6,100;   barley,  89,000;  ! 
corn,  5.50;  hay,  45,320.    Alfalfa  is  raised  in  many  places  in  the  county. 

Horticulture.- Much  attention  is  now  being  paid  to  fruit  culture,  though  the  county 
has  not  yet  reached  a  prominent  rank  in  this  respect.  In  the  Arroyo  Grande  section 
fruits  and  vegetables  grow  in  profusion  and  to  great  size.  On  the  coast  apples  i 
and  pears  rank  best;  in  the  interior  the  prune,  apricot,  and  olive;  on  the  hills  the  . 
choicest  grapes,  for  table,  raisins,  and  wine,  are  produced.  Near  Templeton  is  a  250- 
acre  prune  orchard.  Around  Paso  Robles  much  attention  is  now  being  given  to 
fruit  culture,  though  the  orchards  are  yet  young.    Other  admirable  fruit  sections  are 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  G9 

the  Arroj'O  Grande  Valley,  the  Salinas  Basin,  and  the  San  Jos<5  Valley.  The  total 
acreage  of  fruit  is  4,G4(),  of  which  3,2G2  are  bearing  and  1,384  not  bearing,  ranking  in 
varieties  as  follows:  prunes,  grapes,  peaches,  walnuts,  apples,  apricots,  olives,  cherries, 
lemons,  oranges,  and  figs.  There  is  no  limit  to  the  possible  development  of  this 
county  in  fruit  culture,  whenever  enterprise  pushes  it  and  the  outside  markets  are 
cheaply  reached. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying.— The  character  of  the  county  renders  this  interest  a  very 
profitable  one.  Abundant  natural  water  and  vegetation  and  extensive  ranges  i)revail. 
The  higher  plateaus  of  the  southeast  are  covered  with  grasses  and  devoted  to  stock  rais- 
ing. There  are  many  large  stock  ranges,  and  dairy  farms  are  numerous.  Their  annual 
product  is  over  3,500,000  pounds  of  butter,  and  900,000  pounds  of  cheese,  most  of  which  is 
shipped  to  San  Francisco.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892:  Horses,  13,568;  cattle,  76,989; 
hogs,  4,418;  mules,  276;  sheep,  24,050;  goats,  560;  poultry,  3,975  dozen. 

Minerals.— Quicksilver,  onyx,  copper,  coal,  chrome  iron,  granite,  gold  and  silver, 
asphaltum,  and  petroleum  are  found  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 

Fisheries.— The  fisheries  of  the  coast  are  important,  and  the  business  is  capable  of 
great  increase. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts.— Paso  de  Robles  is  a  famous  resort,  with  its  grand  hotel, 
baths,  and  springs;  so  also  are  San  Luis  Obispo,  with  its  fine  hotel  accommodations, 
Santa  Ysabel  Springs,  Xewsom  Warm  Sulphur  Springs,  and  other  places.  No  better 
trout  fishing  is  found  in  the  State.  The  Pismo  clam  beach,  20  miles  long,  with  its  splendid 
drive,  is  a  noted  locality. 

Prices  of  Land. — This  county  offers  the  most  favorable  opportunities  to  purchase 
good  land  in  the  above  described  valleys  at  very  reasonable  prices.  When  the  through 
railroad  system  to  Los  Angeles  is  completed  such  property  must  greatly  increase  in 
value. 

SAN  MATEO. 

San  Mateo  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  San  Francisco,  east  by  San  Francisco 
Bay  and  Santa  Clara,  south  by  Santa  Cruz  County,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics. — Area,  467  square  miles,  or  298,880  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
2,500  acres.  Lands  assessed,  296,197  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  .|16,- 
264,679.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.15.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  2.5.10; 
assessed  at  $234,704.  County  property,  $55,000.  County  debt,  $78,000.  Number  of  schools, 
56.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,641.  School  money,  $57,869  93.  Population, 
census  of  1890,  10,054. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Redwood  City,  the  county  seat,  population  1,600, 
is  located  on  San  Francisco  Bay,  and  has  rail  communication  with  San  Francisco.  It  is 
an  active  business  place,  with  good  public  and  business  buildings,  churches,  and  schools, 
and  two  large  tanneries  with  a  yearly  output  of  70,000  hides.  It  is  provided  with  good 
light,  water,  and  sewer  systems,  and  excellent  streets,  and  is  a  large  shipping  point  for 
the  products  of  the  interior.  Menlo  Park,  Millbrae,  Fair  Oaks,  Belmont,  etc.,  are  the  loca- 
tions of  elegant  and  luxurious  suburban  homes  of  San  Francisco  merchants  and  retired 
capitalists.  Pescadero,  Half  Moon  Bay,  and  Amesport  are  located  on  the  coast,  and  are 
important  shipping  points  for  dairy  and  other  products.  Scars^ville,  La  Honda,  and 
Woodside  are  among  the  hills.  Baden  is  near  the  northern  boundary,  on  the  railroad,  2 
miles  from  San  Bruno  Point,  where  the  immense  abattoirs  of  the  San  Francisco  Land 
and  Improvement  Company  are  located,  and  a  town  of  over  600  population  has  sprung 
up  the  past  year. 

Topography. — The  county  has  35  miles  frontage  on  the  east  on  San  Francisco  Bay, 
and  65  miles  on  the  west  on  the  ocean.  A  spur  of  the  Coast  Range,  called  the  Santa 
Morena,  divides  the  county  north  and  south.  The  coast  portion  and  the  mountains 
occupy  one  half  the  area,  the  eastern  division  the  other  half.  The  mountain  range 
averages  9  miles  in  width,  with  an  altitude  of  about  2,500  feet.  There  are  many  fine 
streams  on  both  slopes,  and  the  county  is  generally  well  provided  with  water.  The 
Spring  Valley  Water  Company  of  San  Francisco  has  its  main  reservoirs  and  .sources 
of  supply  in  this  county. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  San  Mateo  is  generally  a  warm,  sandy  loam,  with  admixture  of 
adobe  in  some  places.    There  are  about  2.3,000  acres  of  salt  marsh  land  on  the  bay  side. 


70  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

Climate. — The  Santa  Morena  range  turns  aside  the  sea  breeze,  and  holds  back  the 
ocean  fogs,  which  roll  up  the  western  slope  and  bank  themselves  along  the  summit 
The  influence  of  the  ocean  breeze  thus  reaches  the  eastern  portion  very  much  tempered 
down,  but  reduces  the  summer  heat  to  a  delightful  medium.  The  average  summer 
temperature  is  72°,  and  rarely  on  the  coldest  winter  nights  reaches  36°.  This  generally 
occurs  between  December  15th  and  January  15th.  The  rainfall  is  about  the  same  as  at 
San  Jos^. 

Agriculture. — Large  crops  of  wheat,  barley,  beans,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables  are 
raised  in  the  region  about  Half  I\Ioon  Bay,  in  the  western  section,  and  shipped  by  water 
to  San  Francisco.  Vegetables  are  sent  from  this  county  to  the  city  markets  every  day 
of  the  year. 

Horticulture. — Many  of  the  large  ranches  heretofore  held  are  now  being  subdivided 
and  sold  in  small  tracts,  which  is  expected  to  stimulate  fruit  raising,  an  industry  which 
has  not  hitherto  received  the  attention  it  merits.  There  are  432  acres  of  vineyard  and 
orchard— 361  bearing  and  71  not  bearing— the  varieties  ranging  as  follows:  Apples,  149; 
grapes,  110;  prunes,  48;  apricots,  45;  olives,  28;  pears,  26;  then  cherries,  almonds,  wal- 
nuts, and  figs.  The  orchards  are  mostly  for  family  use,  varying  generally  from  1%  to  2 
acres.  Fruits  do  marvelously  well  with  proper  attention.  The  main  interest  is  in  vege- 
table raising  and  dairying. 

Stock  and  Dairying.— A  large  amount  of  butter  and  cheese  is  manufactured  in  this 
county  for  the  San  Francisco  market,  and  thousands  of  gallons  of  milk  are  daily 
shipped  to  the  city.  There  are  a  number  of  large  dairies  famous  for  their  output,  where 
extensive  experiments  have  been  made  in  the  grasses  best  adapted  to  the  soil,  and 
giving  the  best  results  in  milk.  Most  of  the  dairying  and  manufacture  of  butter  and 
cheese  is  carried  on  in  the  coast  section,  and  the  products  shipped  to  the  city  by  sea. 
Creameries  are  in  successful  operation  at  Pescadero  and  Half  Moon  Bay.  The  Assess- 
or's report  for  1892  shows  2,778  horses,  13,337  cattle,  1,383  hogs,  109  mules,  136  sheep,  119 
goats,  and  2,670  dozen  poultry.  The  immense  stockyards  located  at  Baden,  or  South 
San  Francisco,  will  doubtless  greatly  increase  the  product  of  beef  cattle  and  mutton  in 
this  convenient  section. 

Timber. — It  is  surprising  to  find  so  large  a  tract  of  virgin  timber  so  near  a  large  city, 
as  exists  in  this  county.  In  the  extreme  southwestern  portion,  in  what  is  termed  the 
Big  Basin,  there  are  estimated  standing  100,000  acres  of  redwood  of  great  size,  rivaling, 
in  some  cases,  the  gigantic  sequoias  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  There  are  five  saw  mills  and 
nine  shingle  mills  in  the  mountains,  and  their  annual  output  is  valued  at  $1,000,000. 
Fully  65,000,000  shingles  are  shipped  each  year. 

Attractions. — With  its  splendid  country  roads,  to  the  improvement  of  which  much 
money  is  yearly  devoted,  with  its  elegant  suburban  homes,  and  its  numerous  hotels 
for  summer  residence,  its  superior  educational  advantages,  its  genial,  equable,  and 
healthful  climate,  its  large  stretch  of  ocean  coast  and  bay  frontage,  and  its  frequent  and 
close  communication  with  the  metropolis,  this  county  presents  both  to  the  tourist  and 
the  home-seeker  many  inducements.  The  proximity  of  the  Stanford  University  adds  to 
the  value  of  the  county  as  a  residence  for  those  seeking  superior  educational  facilities. 

Prices  of  Land. — Prices  of  land  are,  of  course,  comparatively  high  in  this  section, 
but  considering  these  many  advantages  not  higher  than  the  situation  justifies. 

SANTA   BARBARA. 

Santa  Barbara  County  is  bounded  north  by  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  east  by  Ventura, 
south  by  Santa  Barbara  channel,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics. — Area,  2,265  square  miles,  or  1,449,600  acres.  Unentered  Government  land,! 
330,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,118,081  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,' 
$17,070,154.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.40.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  53.60;' 
assessed  at  $440,041.  County  property,  $121,500.  County  debt,  $6,000.  Number  of  schools, 
93.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,525.  School  money,  $92,570  71.  Popula- 
tion, census  of  1890,  15,730. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Santa  Barbara,  the  county  seat,  population, 
census  of  1890,  5,864,  is  a  beautifully  located  city  on  the  island-protected  channel  of  the; 
Pacific  Ocean,  which  lies  south  of  the  coast.    Its  harbor  is  a  good  one.    The  United 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RKSOURCKS.  71 

States  vessels  built  on  this  coast  are  officially  tested  on  the  course  through  this  channel. 
It  has  connection  bj'  rail  with  Los  Angeles  on  tlie  south,  and  tlic  pap  now  renuuning  to 
the  north  between  EUwood  and  Santa  Margarita  when  closed  will  give  it  direct  rail  con- 
nection with  San  Francisco,  and  will  place  it  on  the  direct  tourist's  route  from  the  norlli 
to  the  south.  Lines  of  first-class  steamers  connect  also  with  Los  Angeles,  San  Diego, 
and  San  Francisco.  The  city  is  well  provided  with  hotels  of  the  first  cla.ss,  gas,  electric, 
and  water  works,  good  sewer  system,  street  car  lines,  three  banks,  five  schools,  tiiirteen 
churches,  opera  house,  race  course,  three  newspapers,  and  many  other  attractions  and 
conveniences.  A  splendid  boulevard  skirts  the  ocean  front,  and  another  extends  from 
the  wharf  to  the  foothills.  It  is  a  city  of  shrubs  and  (lowers,  of  groves  and  lawns,  and 
elegant  homes.  Its  almost  insular  and  balmy  climate  is  a  perpetual  delight  and  consti- 
tutes it  one  of  the  best  resorts  for  invalids  in  the  State. 

Montecito  is  a  beautiful  residence  place,  in  a  sheltered  nook  facing  the  ocean,  among 
park-like  clumps  of  live  oaks.  There  are  lemon  groves,  a  fine  olive  mill,  and  a  luxurious 
semi-tropical  growth  of  vegetation.  In  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  the  county 
is  the  town  and  valley  of  Carpenteria,  noted  for  its  deep  alluvial  soil  and  walnut  orchards. 
Goleta,  east  of  Santa  Barbara,  is  a  trading  point  for  the  dairy  ranches  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. Ellwood  is  on  the  celebrated  olive  ranch  of  that  name.  North  of  the  mountains 
is  Lompoc,  which  was  founded  as  a  temperance  colony  in  1874.  The  town  lias  good 
churches,  schools,  etc.  Santa  jNIaria,  in  the  valley  of  that  name,  which  has  the  largest 
available  stretch  of  arable  land  of  any  valley  in  the  county,  is  a  progressive  town,  the 
second  in  the  county,  with  good  school  buildings,  churches,  water  and  sewer  systems, 
banks,  hotels,  cannery,  flouring  mill,  etc.;  population  (1890),  1,200.  Guadalupe  is  sur- 
rounded by  dairy  ranches,  mostly  conducted  by  Swiss.  Los  Alamos  is  a  sightly  place 
in  a  fertile  valley.  Los  Olivos  is  the  present  southern  terminus  of  the  Pacific  Coast 
Eailway.  Olives  and  other  crops  are  raised,  also  live  stock.  Santa  Ynez,  in  the  valley 
of  that  name,  has  a  good  hotel,  stores,  etc.    Around  Ballards  fine  fruit  is  grown. 

Topography. — A  large  part  of  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  county  is  rugged 
mountains,  containing  some  few  small  fertile  valleys.  The  county  is  divided  east  and 
west  by  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains.  The  northern  portion,  the  most  extensive,  com- 
prises four  important  valleys— Santa  ^Maria,  Lompoc,  Los  Alamos,  and  Santa  Ynez.  The 
southern  part,  between  mountains  and  ocean,  is  called  Santa  Barbara  Valley  in  general 
and  comprises  Carpenteria,  Montecito,  Goleta,  and  Ellwood.  The  following  represents 
the  acreage  of  all  the  foregoing  and  the  islands:  Santa  Maria  and  adjuncts,  250,000;  Los 
Alamos,  150,000;  Lompoc,  230,000;  Santa  Ynez,  200,000;  Santa  Barbara,  108,000;  two 
islands,  150,000. 

Soils.— Santa  Barbara  Valley  in  its  lower  levels  is  alluvial,  very  deep  and  fertile, 
producing  famous  crops  of  lima  beans,  fresh  berries,  and  vegetables  the  year  round;  the 
upper  part,  somewhat  adobe,  black  and  fertile,  is  devoted  to  cereals,  mustard,  fiax,  and 
pasture.  The  soils  of  the  northern  valleys  are  mostly  sandy  loam.  On  the  west,  near 
the  sea,  they  are  somewhat  heavier.  The  Santa  Maria  Valley  is  a  sandy  loam,  while  its 
extension,  the  Sisquoc  Valley,  is  deeper  and  richer.  The  lower  and  northern  valley 
grows  large  crops  of  beans  and  potatoes,  and  higher  up  wheat  and  barley.  The  future 
of  the  entire  section  lies  in  its  adaptability  to  fruits  of  all  kinds,  varied  according  to 
soil  and  location. 

Climate.— Few  places  in  the  world  can  show  so  remarkable  a  record.  For  twenty 
years  the  mercury  has  only  once  reached  31^,  and  once  as  high  as  102°.  The  average  for 
thirteen  years  varied  from  55°  to  71°.  There  are  over  310  pleasant  days  in  a  year,  5 
rainy,  12  showery,  29  cloudy,  and  10  windy.  The  strip  of  land  along  the  south  coast 
bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  Riviera.  An  invalid  could  be  out  all  day  for  .146 
days  in  the  year,  without  discomfort.  Surf  bathing  in  midwinter  is  common;  the 
temperature  of  the  water  only  varies  6°  summer  and  winter.  The  average  annual  rain- 
fall is  about  18  inches. 

Agriculture.— In  the  line  of  agricultural  products  wheat,  barley,  com,  hay,  beans, 
mustard,  potatoes,  and  all  other  vegetables  are  largely  rai.sed.  Large  fields  are  devoted 
to  pampas  grass.  Anything  can  be  raised  on  this  soil  and  in  this  climate.  The  A.^sessor 
reports  38,240  acres  in  wheat,  31,090  in  barley,  1,328  in  corn,  and  15,790  in  liay  for  1892. 

Floriculture.— This  county  is  the  florist's  paradise.  All  varieties  of  (lowers  and 
shrubs  are  grown  in  the  greatest  profusion.    The  recent  flower  festival  in  Santa  Barbara 


72  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

was  a  carnival  of  delight,  and  was  visited  by  many  people  from  the  entire  State  and 
from  the  East. 

Horticulture. — There  is  the  widest  range  of  adaptability  to  fruit  production  for  all 
varieties,  the  same  as  in  San  Diego.  In  tropical  fruits,  the  cherimoya,  mango,  and  alligator 
pear;  in  citrus  fruits,  oranges,  lemons,  and  limes;  in  semi-tropical  fruits,  loquats,  guavas, 
dates,  bananas;  in  deciduous  fruits  of  the  temperate  zone,  the  entire  range,  besides 
olives,  figs,  apricots,  grapes,  prunes,  almonds,  and  English  walnuts.  The  principal  fruit 
sections  are  Carpenteria,  Montecito,  Ellwood,  Livas,  Santa  Maria,  and  Lompoc.  The 
main  product  is  olives,  in  which  Santa  Barbara  leads  the  State.  There  are  over  30,000 
trees,  and  the  finest  grade  of  oil  is  made,  which  has  gained  a  national  reputation. 
The  annual  output  of  one  orchard  is  30,000  bottles  of  oil.  All  kinds  of  nuts  do  famously. 
There  is  here  the  largest  orchard  of  English  walnuts  in  the  world.  The  lemon  industry 
is  receiving  prominent  attention,  and  some  of  the  finest  fruit  in  the  world  is  produced 
in  this  county.  Many  new  and  large  lemon  groves  are  being  planted.  The  total  acreage 
in  trees  and  vines  is  9,439,  of  which  6,243  are  bearing  and  3,196  not  bearing,  ranking  as 
follows:  walnuts,  lemons,  apricots,  olives,  figs,  prunes,  peaches,  oranges,  almonds,  pears, 
and  cherries.  On  Santa  Cruz  Island  4,500  gallons  of  wine  were  made  last  year.  Santa 
Barbara  needs  only  better  railroad  service  and  closer  connection  with  the  outside  world, 
in  a  word,  development,  to  produce  the  grandest  results  in  fruit  culture. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying.— Stock  raising  and  dairying  are  carried  on  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  mainly  north  of  the  mountains  and  in  the  coast  regions.  The  railroad 
shipped  out  of  the  county,  in  1891, 250,000  head  of  live  stock  and  10,300,000  pounds  of  other 
products.  Probably  one  half  as  much  more  went  by  sea.  Stock  raising  was  formerly  the 
leading  pursuit,  but  the  stockman  is  gradually  retreating  before  the  orchardist.  The 
wool  product,  however,  is  still  very  large.  On  the  islands  of  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Rosa 
are  about  75,000  sheep.  The  Assessor  reports  10,619  horses,  33,206  cattle,  3,405  hogs,  956 
mules,  136,982  sheep,  and  4,216  dozen  poultry. 

Fishing.— The  fisheries  of  the  coast  are  very  valuable,  those  of  Santa  Cruz  and  San 
Miguel  being  extensive.  The  abalone,  a  large  mollusk,  is  found  in  abundance.  The 
meat  is  dried  and  shipped  to  China  and  the  shells  are  polished  for  ornaments.  Many 
pearls  are  found  in  them. 

Minerals.- Valuable  mineral  deposits  are  found  throughout  the  mountain  ranges; 
gold,  silver,  copper,  quicksilver,  manganese,  gypsum,  asphaltum,  and  bitumen  abound, 
and  Carpenteria  has  large  plants  for  refining  and  preparing  the  last  two  products. 
Petroleum  is  found  in  paying  quantities  about  10  miles  from  Santa  Barbara,  which  is 
piped  from  the  mountains  to  Carpenteria.  There  are  over  20  natural  gas  wells,  and  many 
use  the  gas  for  fuel  and  lighting  purposes.  A  well  on  the  Ortega  ranch,  104  feet  deep, 
flows  2,000,000  cubic  feet  per  day. 

Timber.— There  is  much  valuable  timber  in  the  mountains  and  large  detached  groves, 
and  everywhere  along  streams  are  scattering  oaks  for  fuel. 

Prices  of  Land. — Land  prices  are  not  high,  yet  it  is  difficult  to  state  the  exact  price  of 
land,  as  it  varies  with  the  situation.  Near  settlements  and  towns,  and  in  well  cultivated, 
rich  districts,  prices  are  much  higher  than  those  in  remote  sections.  No  county  presents 
superior  inducements  for  intelligent,  industrious  settlers  with  more  or  less  means,  and 
the  retired  moneyed  man  in  search  of  a  charming,  quiet  home,  among  refined  and 
cultured  people,  need  look  for  no  better  location. 

SANTA  CLARA. 

Santa  Clara  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Alameda,  east  by  Stanislaus  and 
Merced,  south  by  San  Benito,  and  west  by  San  Mateo  and  Santa  Cruz  Counties. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,750  square  miles,  or  1,120,000  acres.  Unentered  Government 
land,  .50,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  689,500.72  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all 
property,  $54,812,088.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.15.  Number  of  miles  of 
railroad,  112.60;  assessed  at  $1,276,245.  County  property,  $576,500.  County  debt,  $212,000. 
Number  of  schools,  209.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  13,171.  School  money, 
$264,785  87.    Population,  census  of  1890,  47,895. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— San  Jos6,  the  county  seat,  has  a  population  of 
about  20,000,  and  is  situated  about  50  miles  from  San  Francisco,  with  which  it  is  con- 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIRR     RESOURCES.  73 

nected  by  three  lines  of  railroad,  with  twenty-two  daily  trains.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
charming,  attractive,  and  wealthy  cities  of  the  State.  Its  Court-house,  with  Corinthian 
architecture  and  lofty  dome,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $225,000.  Its  Hall  of  Uecords,  just 
completed,  cost  $1(JO,000.  It  boasts  also  a  new  City  Hall,  25  miles  of  electric  road,  electric 
light  and  gasworks,  108  miles  of  macadamized  and  asphaltum  streets,  35  miles  of  brick 
and  pipe  sewerage,  elegant  parks,  and  hotels  of  cosmopolitan  fame,  six  banks,  four 
daily  and  four  other  newspapers,  a  free  library  and  art  school,  the  State  Normal  School, 
colleges,  and  splendid  public  school  provision  in  buildings  and  furniture,  twenty 
churclies,  with  $500,000  of  property  and  8,000  membership,  magnificent  business  blocks, 
and  every  feature  of  a  first-class  city.  It  is  well  provided  also  with  manufactories  of 
iron.  Hour,  beer,  wines,  and  brandies,  some  of  the  largest  fruit  canneries  of  the  State, 
and  annually  ships  nearly  100,000,000  pounds  of  various  products  from  her  railroad 
depots. 

Santa  Clara,  population  3,000,  is  connected  with  San  Jos6  by  street  railway.  It  has 
colleges,  newspapers,  bank,  wineries,  fruit  driers,  etc.,  and  ships  annually  over  20,000,000 
pounds,  mostly  fruits,  wineS,  and  berries. 

Gilroy,  population  2,000,  has  a  bank,  two  newspapers,  mills,  factories,  and  good  busi- 
ness buildings. 

Los  Gatos,  population  1,700,  is  a  large  fruit-producing  center,  with  a  bank,  two  news- 
papers, schools,  churches,  etc. 

Mayfield,  population  1,100,  is  the  nearest  town  to  Stanford  University. 

Other  important  and  prosperous  towns  are  ^lountain  View,  Alviso,  Milpitas,  Berry- 
essa,  all  fruit  centers  of  importance,  with  canneries,  etc.,  Saratoga,  and  Agnews,  where 
the  Branch  State  Insane  Asylum  is  located. 

Topography. — The  eastern  boundary  of  the  county  is  the  crest  of  the  Coast  Range; 
its  western  the  summit  of  the  Santa  Cruz  Mountains.  Between  is  the  famous  Santa 
Clara  Valley,  about  30  miles  wide  at  its  northern  extremity,  but  with  an  average  width 
of  15  miles.  The  hills  adjacent  to  the  valley  are  wide  and  gently  rolling.  There  are 
about  250,000  acres  of  valley  and  300,000  acres  of  foothills.  The  warm  belt  is  a  tract  from 
600  to  2,000  feet  altitude  along  the  slope  of  the  hills  encircling  the  valley.  It  is  gener- 
ally, and  in  some  cases  absolutely,  free  from  frost.  In  this  belt  east  of  ^lilpitas,  pota- 
toes, peas,  tomatoes,  and  strawberries  are  grown  for  the  San  Francisco  and  other  markets 
all  the  year.  The  Los  Gatos  and  Guadalupe  Rivers  and  Coyote  Creek  are  the  principal 
streams,  though  there  are  many  other  smaller  ones— the  larger  ones  diminishing  greatly 
and  the  smaller  ones  disappearing  entirely  in  the  summer. 

Soils.— There  is  a  great  variety  in  this  valley.  Around  San  Jos6  on  the  Guadalupe 
and  Los  Gatos  Rivers  are  some  hundreds  of  acres  known  as  the  "Willows,"  esteemed 
the  most  desirable  in  the  valley.  The  soil  is  a  sedimentary  deposit  easily  cultivated  and 
requiring  no  irrigation.  In  the  southern  portion  of  the  valley  the  soil  is  eminently  pro- 
ductive, and  some  of  the  most  successful  dairies  of  the  State  are  established  there.  The 
more  elevated  portions  are  adapted  to  fruits  and  vines.  Alviso  district  has  a  rich,  black 
loam  highly  prized  for  small  fruits,  vegetables,  seed  farms,  etc.  The  red  chemisal  and 
chaparral  lands  on  the  hillsides,  though  more  difficult  of  cultivation,  give  good  results 
in  fruit  culture.  The  higher  lands  are  composed  of  black,  tenacious,  and  wonderfully 
fertile  clay  loam.  On  the  borders  of  San  Francisco  Bay  are  thousands  of  acres  of  salt 
marsh,  which,  wherever  reclaimed,  are  most  productive. 

Climate.— The  mountain  range  on  the  west  shuts  off  the  fogs  and  winds  of  the  ocean, 
and  the  eastern  the  hotter  winds  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley.  The  average  temperature 
is,  winter,  50°;  summer,  80°.  On  rare  occasions  a  higher  temperature  is  shown  in  sum- 
mer, and  occasionally  32°  is  reached  in  winter.  The  average  annual  rainfall  is  from 
15  inches  in  some  localities  to  35  inches  in  others.  The  climate  in  general  is  unsurpassed 
in  the  State. 

Irrigation.— Irrigation  is  not  generally  practiced,  but  where  considered  necessary  is 
effected  by  artesian  wells  and  pumping.  These  wells  are  found  all  over  the  valley,  vary- 
ing from  60  to  100  feet  deep,  though  a  greater  depth  often  yields  a  larger  supply.  The 
cities  and  larger  towns  are  supplied  by  reservoir  and  complete  waterworks  systems.  The 
valley  is  covered  with  windmills. 

Agriculture.— Though  the  valley  is  immensely  productive  of  all  cereals  and  grasses, 
the  extensive  subdivision  into  small  farms  has  stimulated  the  direction  of  agricultural 


74  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

efforts  into  other  channels,  there  being  1,368  tracts  of  10  acres  or  less;  1,448  of  15  to  40 
acres;  252  of  40  to  60  acres;  588  of  60  to  100;  563  of  100  to  160;  307  of  160  to  240;  209  of  240 
to  320;  169  of  320  to  400;  and  309  tracts  in  excess  of  400  acres.  That  the  cereal  product  is 
yielding  to  others,  is  proved  by  the  acreage  sown  in  1888,  of  37,910,  and  that  of  1S92, 
32,558.  There  were  34,935  acres  devoted  to  hay  in  1892.  Some  of  the  shipments  of  1892 
are:  garden  seed,  596,010  pounds;  potatoes,  4,004,040  pounds;  hops,  277,945  pounds;  beans, 
62,150  pounds.  As  these  shipments  are  by  rail  only,  and  mostly  Eastern,  the  figures  give 
only  an  approximate  idea  of  the  total  output,  as  much  more  is  shipped  by  water  to  local 
markets.  More  tomatoes  are  raised  in  Santa  Clara  County  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
State.  The  production  of  celery,  asparagus,  cabbage,  rhubarb,  beets,  peas,  onions,  and 
other  vegetables  is  almost  beyond  computation. 

Horticulture.— But  the  leading  business  of  the  county  is  fruit  raising,  and  especially 
deciduous  fruits.  In  1892  the  rail  shipments  were,  canned  fruits,  20,711,785  pounds; 
green  fruit,  15,656,675  pounds;  dried  fruit:  prunes,  16,992,830  pounds;  peaches,  98fV_'10 
pounds;  plums,  57,140  pounds;  pears,  338,600  pounds;  apricots,  2,462,125  pounds;  grapes 
and  raisins,  142,335  pounds;  total  green,  canned,  and  dried  fruits,  57,347,700  pounds. 
There  were  also  shipped  4,868,015  pounds  of  wine  and  brandy  and  20,000  pounds  of  nuts, 
or  a  grand  total  of  fruit  products  of  62,235,715  pounds. 

Santa  Clara  leads  the  State  in  the  prune  production.  The  variety  grown  is  mainly 
what  is  known  in  France  as  the  Prune  D'Agen,  but  here  called  the  California  prune. 
The  prune  in  this  section  grows  in  equal  luxuriance  in  valley  or  foothill.  One  half 
of  the  area  of  the  county  is  suitable  for  its  production.  The  acreage  in  fruit  in  1H91 
was  23,937— bearing,  15,953;  not  bearing,  7,984.  The  acreage  of  the  leading  varieties  is 
as  follows:  Prunes,  8,000  acres;  peaches,  5,570;  apricots,  4,350;  cherries,  1,250;  pears . 
(mostly  Bartlett),  900;  plums,  900;  apples,  750;  almonds,  200;  walnuts,  17;  figs,  20; ; 
oranges,  40;  lemons,  5;  raisins,  1,400.  Although  citrus  fruits  do  well  in  many  places ; 
and  fine  qualities  have  been  produced,  they  have  never  been  cultivated  for  profit  in  • 
this  county. 

All  the  berries  do  well;  800  acres  of  strawberries  are  set  out.  Blackberries,  raspberries, : 
and  currants  are  also  largely  raised.  There  are  about  1,500  acres  in  vineyard  in  this  j 
county,  and  a  large  crop  of  table  grapes  is  raised,  though  the  bulk  is  manufactured  into  : 
wine  and  brandy. 

Marketing  of  Fruits. — The  fruit  growers,  canners,  and  driers  of  the  valley  have 
recently  adopted  a  plan  for  marketing  the  products  of  this  region  which  has  proved 
highly  satisfactory. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying. — Much  fine  stock  is  raised  in  this  county.  The  breed- 
ing stables  and  farm  of  thoroughbreds  at  Palo  Alto  are  widely  known.  The  largest 
herd  of  short  horns  in  the  world  is  in  this  section.  Dairying  is  extensively  carried  on 
near  Gilroy  and  Santa  Clara;  the  principal  product  is  cheese.  There  were  61,275  pounds 
of  -wool  shipped  in  1892.  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  11,842  horses,  25,030  cattle,  3,788 
hogs,  101  mules,  4,218  sheep,  247  goats,  and  7,580  dozen  poultry. 

Minerals.— The  quicksilver  deposits  have  been  mined  for  many  years  and  produced 
millions.  In  the  mountains  are  found  cinnabar,  petroleum,  chromite,  bituminous  rock, 
limestone,  coal,  and  natural  gas.  There  are  large  quarries  of  sandstone,  from  which 
Stanford  University  and  other  buildings  were  erected. 

Education.— The  county  is  rich  in  institutions  for  high  and  broad  culture.  The 
Stanford  University,  Academy  of  Notre  Dame,  St.  Joseph's  College,  Santa  Clara 
College,  University  of  the  Pacific,  and  the  Normal  School  are  the  notable  ones,  and 
are  equipped  with  every  appliance  which  money  and  influence  can  procure  to  consti- 
tute them  first-class  halls  of  learning.  The  Lick  Observatory  is  on  Mount  Hamilton, 
altitude  4,443  feet,  and  about  15  miles  east  of  San  Jos6.  Its  endowment  is  $750,000, 
and  it  has  the  largest  refracting  telescope  in  the  world  yet  constructed,  with  a  36-inch, 
object  glass. 

Prices  of  Land.— The  prices  of  land  are  not  high,  considering  the  improvements, 
the  richness  of  the  soil,  the  ready  central  markets  for  all  products,  and  the  highly: 
improved  condition  of  the  fruit  ranches  and  vineyards,  in  the  midst  of  a  cultured  and| 
wealthy  class  of  citizens.  But  there  are  yet  unimproved  lands  which  can  be  brought  to  ] 
the  same  state  of  j)erfect  cultivation  and  improvement,  to  be  secured  at  a  reasonable'! 
price,  when  their  income-producing  power  is  taken  into  account. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     RESOURCES. 


SANTA  CRUZ. 


Santa  Cruz  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  San  Mateo  County,  east  by  Santa  Clara,  south 
by  Monterey,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  437  square  miles,  or  279,680  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
5,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  253,902.50  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property', 
112,313,213.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.60.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  55.t>4; 
assessed  at  $632,317.  County  property,  $84,000.  County  debt,  $i:J6,000.  Number  of 
schools,  98.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  5,250.  School  money,  |99,739  72. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  19,270. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Santa  Cruz,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population 
of  6,000,  is  situated  on  the  ocean  on  the  northerly  side  of  Monterey  Bay.  It  is  a  thriving, 
prosperous  town,  having  fine  county  and  business  buildings,  schools,  and  churches,  four 
banks,  two  daily  newspapers,  two  weekly  newspapers,  electric  street  railway,  gas  and 
water  works,  railroad  connections  with  San  Francisco  by  two  railroad  lines  and  by 
steamer,  and  elegant  hotels.  It  has  a  perfect  sewer  system,  fine  paved  or  asphalt  streetH, 
and  many  manufacturing  industries.  The  San  Lorenzo  River  will  soon  be  made  to 
furnish  power  for  electric  lights,  motors,  and  for  other  purposes.  Many  new  buildings 
have  been  completed  during  the  past  year,  and  the  city  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 

■\Vatsonville  is  a  fine  town  on  the  Pajaro  River,  population  about  3,000,  and  is 
possessed  of  fine  hotels,  high  and  other  public  schools,  churches,  two  banks,  one  daily 
and  two  weekly  newspapers.    Other  towns  are  Soquel,  Aptos,  Felton,  Glenwood,  etc. 

Topography.— This  county  is  next  to  the  smallest  in  the  State.  It  extends  along  the 
Pacific  Ocean  for  about  45  miles,  and  ranges  from  12  to  20  miles  wide.  The  Santa  Cruz 
Mountains,  on  the  northeast,  separate  it  from  Santa  Clara  County,  and  the  Pajaro  River 
from  Monterey  on  the  southeast.  The  mountainous  land  surrounding  it,  about  40  miles 
long  and  18  miles  wide,  forms  a  basin  sloping  from  the  summit  about  4,000  feet  at  its 
highest  altitude,  down  southward  and  westward  to  the  bay  of  Monterey.  The  inclosed 
crescent,  averaging  about  20  miles  wide,  is  unsurpassed  for  beauty  and  variety  of  scenery. 
The  innumerable  ridges  and  spurs  of  the  mountains  are  intersected  by  gorges,  cafions, 
and  narrow  valleys.  The  sides  of  these  are  thick  with  trees  and  forests,  some  of  them 
of  gigantic  size.  Numerous  streams  and  springs  from  the  mountains  furnish  abundant 
water.  Near  the  coast  are  leagues  of  wide,  high,  and  grassy  plateaus,  furnishing  remark- 
able grazing  and  dairy  lands.  There  are  a  succession  of  chalk  terraces,  the  broad  valley 
of  the  Pajaro,  salt  lagunas,  park-like  groves  of  live  oak,  and  high  sandstone  cliffs  along 
shore.  Along  the  coast-line  are  a  series  of  benches  of  elevated  land.  These  widen  out 
south  of  Santa  Cruz  and  form  a  large  area  of  fruitful  soil. 

Soils. — From  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz  southeast,  the  soil  is  a  light  loam,  rich  in  lime, 
potash,  and  phosphoric  acid.  Pajaro  Valley  varies  from  rich,  sedimentary  alluvial  to 
light  sandy  soil  of  the  foothills.  In  the  lower  part  of  the  valley  a  clayey  loam  predom- 
inates, then  heavy  adobe  higher  up,  followed  by  a  dark  red  loam  of  the  plains.  The 
latter  forms  the  favorite  fruit  soil. 

Climate.— The  temperature  is  most  equable  the  year  round.  Surf  bathing  is  indulged 
in  in  winter.  The  thermometer  ranges  only  10°  between  the  average  winter  and  summer 
temperature.  The  county  is  shielded  from  brisk  winds  by  the  mountains  on  the  north, 
while  the  milder  ocean  breezes  have  free  access.    The  average  rainfall  is  about  25  inches. 

Agriculture. — Cereals,  hay,  and  vegetables  are  raised  here  in  abundance,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  area  subject  to  tillage,  to  compare  favorably  with  any  other  county,  though 
the  holdings  are  all  small,  and  chiefly  devoted  to  fruit  raising.  The  Assessor's  report 
for  1892  shows:  wheat,  5,312  acres;  oats,  6,720;  barley,  2,117;  com,  1,843;  hay,  5,212.  Many 
vegetables  are  produced,  and  some  hops  are  raised.  A  very  important  industry  is  rais- 
ing sugar  beets  for  supplying  the  beet  sugar  factory.  The  beets  of  this  section  have  a 
very  high  percentage  of  sugar,  and  are  in  demand.  About  50,000  tons  are  produced 
annually,  and  an  average  of  .$5  per  ton  is  received  for  them.  This  gives  about  $75  an 
acre,  estimated  to  net  a  profit  of  $50  to  the  producer.  This  business  is  profitable  and 
is  being  extended. 

Horticulture.— The  principal  fruit  districts  are  the  Pajaro  Valley  and  the  Santa  Cruz 
Mountains.  The  total  acreage  in  fruit  is  7,386 — 4,180  bearing  and  3,206  not  bearing.  The 
leading  varieties  in  order  are  prunes,  1,982  acres;  apples,  1,619;  table  grapes,  1,253;  peaches, 


/b  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

772;  apricots,  680;  cherries,  340;  pears,  333;  olives,  124;  small  fruits,  2G0;  walnuts,  13.  The 
yield  varies  with  varieties  of  fruits.  The  strawberry  crop  is  very  large,  about  2,000  tons 
being  shipped  annually.  Of  raspberries  and  blackberries  500  tons  are  marketed.  Straw- 
berries have  yielded  as  high  as  $400  an  acre  gross.  The  prunes  of  Santa  Cruz  rival  thos^e 
of  Santa  Clara,  and  are  of  a  large  size  and  excellent  flavor,  commanding  a  high  price  i  li- 
the Eastern  markets. 

Stock  and  Dairying. — About  50,000  acres  are  devoted  to  dairying  and  pasture.  Ea^h 
year  50,000  pounds  of  cheese  and  1,000,000  pounds  of  butter  are  shipped.  The  Assessor's 
report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  4,768;  cattle,  5,771;  hogs,  1,472;  mules,  116;  sheep,  1,014; 
goats,  187;  poultrj^,  1,985  dozen. 

Timber.— The  redwood  timber  interests  are  very  extensive.  One  third  of  the  county 
is  thus  timbered,  and  there  are  many  mills  in  the  county.  Redwood  logs  20  feet  long, 
and  ten  of  them  to  a  tree,  are  an  average.  One  acre  of  this  timber  yields  1,000,000  feet  of 
lumber.  The  "  Giant,"  in  Powder  Mill  Cailon,  measures  300  feet  high  and  21  feet  in 
diameter.    There  is  still  standing  1,100,000,000  feet  of  redwood. 

Minerals. — Gold  has  been  found  in  various  places,  but  no  systematic  effort  has  been 
made  to  develop  this  resource.  A  quartz  mine  has  been  opened  a  few  miles  north  of 
Santa  Cruz.  There  are  auriferous  sands  along  the  ocean  beach.  About  $150,000  worth 
of  bitumen  is  mined  and  shipped  annually,  some  of  it  going  as  far  as  Denver. 

Manufactures. — The  manufacturing  interests  of  the  county  are  many  and  their 
product  runs  into  large  figures.  The  principal  products  are  beet  sugar,  about  6,000  tons, 
lime,  powder,  lumber,  paper,  leather,  boots  and  shoes,  wine,  and  caimed  fruit.  Besides 
these  there  are  many  others  of  local  use.  Plans  are  being  made  for  plants  to  manufact- 
ure the  new  smokeless  powder.  A  scheme  is  maturing  to  utilize  the  San  Lorenzo  River 
for  the  purpose  of  generating  electric  power  to  run  lights,  street  cars,  and  manufactories. 

Fisli. — There  are  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  varieties  of  food  fish  in  Monterey  l!ay, 
and  the  fishing  business  of  Santa  Cruz  has  become  an  important  industry. 

Health  and  Pleasure  Resorts. — Thousands  visit  the  splendid  ocean  beach  of  Santa 
Cruz  yearly  to  enjoy  the  surf  bathing  and  the  beautiful  drives  into  the  hills.  The  hotel 
accommodations,  baths,  cottages,  and  provisions  for  amusement  and  recreation  are  all 
befitting  a  first-class  seaside  resort. 

Prices  of  Land.— Land  is  comparatively  reasonable  in  this  county,  and  any  indus- 
trious and  energetic  man  who  desires  to  engage  in  agriculture,  dairying,  or  fruit  culture, 
cannot  fail  to  find  an  advantageous  opening. 

SHASTA. 

Shasta  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Siskiyou  and  Modoc  Counties,  east  by 
Lassen,  south  by  Tehama,  and  west  by  Trinity. 

Statistics.— Area,  3,906  square  miles,  or  2,500,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
1,500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  976,958  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$7,406,379.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.95.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  82.08; 
assessed  at  $1,434,937.  County  property,  $81,000.  County  debt,  $96,456.  Number  of 
schools,  103.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  3,302.  School  money,  $75,455  51. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  12,133. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Redding,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population  of 
2,000,  has  fine  county  buildings,  two  banks,  waterworks,  gas  and  electric  light  plants, 
newspapers,  excellent  school  and  church  buildings,  a  Masonic  Temple  costing  $35,000, 
the  United  States  Land  Office  for  the  district,  many  first-class  business  buildings,  and 
large  warehouses.  It  is  connected  by  rail  with  San  Francisco  and  Portland.  Anderson, 
on  the  railroad,  and  the  center  of  the  fruit  district  and  junction  of  Shasta  Lumber  Com- 
pany's railroad,  has  a  large  cannery,  bank,  newspaper,  and  extensive  lumber  yards. 
Cottonwood  is  a  fruit  center  on  the  railroad.  Other  thriving  places  are  Fall  River  Mills, 
with  an  immense  waterpower  and  flour  mills.  Millville  is  a  fruit  center  in  the  foothills. 
Igo,  Ono,  French  Gulch,  and  Stella  are  mining  towns. 

Topography.- The  rugged,  lofty  mountains  of  the  Coast  Range  and  Sierra  Nevada, 
here  approaching  on  the  north,  surround  the  county  on  all  sides  except  the  south. 
Inclosed  by  them  is  a  semi-circle  of  valley  and  foothills  and  plateaus  forming  the  head 
of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  containing  about  500,000  acres,  with  an  elevation  of  from 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEU     KESOURCRS.  77 

500  to  2,500  feet.  The  central  and  southern  portions  consist  of  table  lands  of  about  700 
feet  elevation.  There  are  four  high  peaks  on  the  east,  including  Lassen,  which  is  10,577 
feet  altitude.  The  principal  rivers  and  creeks  are  Fall  River,  I'itt  River,  Hut  Creek 
(upon  which  is  located  the  United  States  hatchery),  Roaring  River,  Montgomery,  Squaw 
Creek,  McCloud,  and  Little  Sacramento.  The  total  length  of  creeks  and  rivers  in  the 
county  is  250  miles.  The  mountains  on  the  north  and  east  sliow  volcanic  origin  and 
extinct  craters,  cones,  sulphur  and  lava  beds.    Hot  boiling  springs  alK)und. 

Soils. — The  valley  soils  are  alluvium,  largely  intermixed  with  disintegrated  rock  and 
gravel;  color,  light  red  or  reddish  brown.  The  mesa,  or  table  lands,  are  a  sandy  loam,  witli 
a  large  percentage  of  clay,  carrying  in  the  higher  parts  considerable  gravel  and  bowlder* 
The  foothills  show  red  loam  or  clay,  while  to  the  southwest  the  soil  ia  generally  adobe. 
All  of  these  soils  are  generally  rich  and  productive  for  grain,  grasses,  vines,  or  fruit.  In 
Burney  Valley,  over  the  crest  of  the  Sierra,  is  a  plateau  which  extends  throughout  this 
range  and  up  into  eastern  Oregon.  This  plateau,  having  an  elevation  of  S.-'WO  feet,  has 
valleys,  reclaimed  swamp  lands,  and  rolling  highlands.  The  soil  is  muck  in  the  swamps, 
and  in  reclaimed  meadow  land  sandy,  with  clay  admixture  and  subsoil. 

Climate. — The  average  rainfall  is  variable  in  various  locations.  At  Reed's  Camp,  in 
upper  Sacramento  Valley,  for  five  years  it  was  71.8  inches  annually;  for  the  same  period 
at  Redding  it  was  only  36.64  inches  annually.  As  you  ascend  and  go  north,  tlie  average 
increases.  The  summer  temperati:re  at  Redding  ranges  between  70°  and  102°,  tlie  latter 
seldom.  In  December,  January,  and  Februarj'  it  is  never  below  18°.  The  foothills  liave 
an  excellent  climate,  neither  extremely  hot  nor  cold. 

Irrigation  is  practiced  very  little,  though  a  district  of  20,000  acres  has  been  organized 
in  Happy  Valley.    There  are  about  18  miles  of  irrigating  ditches. 

Agriculture.— Agriculture  is  confined  principally  to  raising  wheat,  barley,  oats,  hay, 
and  vegetables  for  home  consumption.  Alfalfa  succeeds  well  without  artificial  irriga- 
tion, and  gives  two  crops  a  year  and  pasturage.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows: 
seeded  to  wheat,  16,400  acres;  oats,  720;  barley,  8,950;  hay,  12,790. 

Horticulture.— The  principal  fruit  sections  are  Redding,  Anderson,  Cottonwood, 
Happy  Valley,  Dry  Creek,  Millville— the  latter  in  the  foothills.  There  are  2,161  acres  in 
fruit— 1,144  bearing  and  1,017  not  bearing.  The  fruits  range  as  follows:  Peaches,  826 
acres;  prunes,  680;  apricots,  281;  apples,  97;  almonds,  81;  pears,  83;  olives,  37;  cherries 
and  oranges,  26  each;  other  varieties,  21.  Many  acres  of  table  and  raisin  grapes  are  bear- 
ing; the  acreage  figures  are  not  at  hand.  Orange  trees  do  remarkably  well,  a  fact  which 
shows  the  great  uniformity  of  climatic  conditions  prevailing  all  along  the  valleys  and 
foothills  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  throughout  over  400  miles  of  latitude 
from  Redding  in  this  county  south  to  Bakersfield  in  Kern  County.  The  shipments  of 
fruit  from  Anderson  for  1892,  from  July  1st,  were,  green  fruit,  288,000  pounds;  dried,  240,- 
000;  total  receipts,  $40,000.  The  shipments  from  Redding  are  also  large.  Thirty-one 
carloads  were  sent  to  Eastern  and  Oregon  markets.  Shasta  is  destined  to  take  high  rank 
in  fruit  production. 

Stock  Raising.— The  southwestern  district,  with  little  timber  and  high,  rolling  hills 
with  rich  adobe  soil,  is  given  up  to  stock  raising,  as  also  is  the  Bumey  Valley  over  the 
eastern  rim  of  the  Sierra.  This  county  raises  many  hogs.  Turkeys  are  herded  in  large 
droves,  and  the  business  is  very  profitable.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  6,037 
horses,  15,101  cattle,  8,100  hogs,  .388  mules,  11,000  sheep,  4,600  goats,  and  2,000  dozen  poultry. 

Timber.- There  is  an  immense  body  of  valuable  timber  in  the  county,  mostly  sugar 
and  yellow  pine,  on  which  eight  large  mills  are  at  work,  especially  in  Round  Mountain 
region.  One  firm  has  a  railroad  from  Anderson  to  their  mills,  and  30  miles  of  flume; 
the  product  is  60,000  feet  daily.  The  total  output  of  the  county  is  2.50,000  feet  per  day. 
Much  lumber  has  been  shipped  from  here  to  Australia,  aside  from  home  markets.  An 
Eastern  syndicate  bought  from  30,000  to  40,000  acres  of  timber  land  this  spring.  There 
are  1,600  square  miles  of  forest. 

Minerals.- The  mining  activity  has  been  greatly  increased  during  the  past  year- 
Gold  is  the  principal  product,  and  has  been  mined  for  years.  The  lodes  are  wide  and 
easily  worked.  There  is  a  silver-bearing  belt  which  can  be  traced  for  miles.  Chrome  and 
magnetic  iron  ores  abound.  INIuch  ore  is  shipped  to  San  Francisco,  to  be  handled  there. 
The  general  mining  interests  of  the  county  were  never  more  prosperous.  Much  foreign 
capital  has  been  invested.    Shasta  offers  almost  a  virgin  field  for  prospecting. 


78  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Pleasure  Resorts. — Nowhere  in  California  can  be  found  more  delightful  summer 
resorts  than  on  the  Oregon  Division  of  the  Southern  Pacific,  in  this  county.  For  grand 
scenery,  delicious  mineral  springs,  refreshing  mountain  air,  and  trout  fishing,  no  place 
offers  greater  attractions. 

Prices  of  Land.— C4ood  fruit  land  can  be  bought  for  .$20  an  acre.  Many  colony  tracts 
offer  land  at  |40  to  $60.  The  best  lands,  in  the  center  of  fruit  districts,  near  the  railroad, 
are  worth  as  much  as  $100  an  acre.  Much  Government  land  can  be  taken  up  in  more 
remote  districts.  Meadow  lands  in  Burney  Valley,  on  the  east,  can  be  bought  for  $15  to 
$30;  pine  lands  from  $7  50  to  $15.  In  many  fields  Shasta  holds  out  strong  inducements 
to  settlers. 

SIERRA. 

Sierra  County  is  bounded  north  by  Plumas  County,  south  by  Nevada,  west  by  Yuba, 
and  east  by  the  State  of  Nevada. 

Statistics. — Area,  781  square  miles,  or  499,840  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  200,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  297,077  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  prop- 
erty, $1,518,968.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  2.75.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
5.41;  assessed  at  $43,676.  County  property,  $11,500.  County  debt,  $16,900.  Number  of 
schools,  36.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  1,006.  School  money,  $18,430  2L 
Population,  census  of  1890,  5,047. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Downieville,  the  county  seat,  population  about ' 
1,100,  altitude   3,000  feet,   has  three  churches,  schools,  business  houses,  and  the  third 
oldest  newspaper  in  the  State.    Sierra  City  is  a  mining  center,  and  supports  one  news- 
paper.   Sierraville,  Port  Wine,  Forest  City,  and  Gibsonville  are  important  towns. 

Topography. — This  is  preeminently  a  mountain  and  mining  county.  Sierra  Valley, 
the  largest  body  of  level  land,  is  30  miles  long  and  from  1  to  10  miles  wide,  and  has  an 
elevation  of  5,000  feet.  There  are  other  small  valleys.  The  mountain  regions,  which 
represent  about  581  square  miles,  are  lofty,  rugged,  seamed  with  chasms  and  canons,  and 
have  many  lakes  and  small  valleys  lying  up  among  the  loftiest  peaks.  Gold  Lake,  4 
miles  by  2,  is  the  source  of  the  Middle  Fork  of  Feather  River. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  the  valleys  is  usually  a  deep,  black  loam  and  rich  vegetable  mold. 

Climate. — During  midsummer  the  thermometer  ranges  from  80°  to  90°  in  the  day, 
with  very  cool  and  often  chilly  nights.  In  winter  an  Eastern  temperature  prevails, 
with  snows  20  feet  deep  on  the  mountains,  and  quite  deep  in  the  valleys.  Travel  is  then 
interrupted  or  done  on  snow  shoes. 

Irrigation.— Water  is  taken  from  abundant  streams  by  private  ditches,  and  land  is 
irrigated  at  an  expense  of  50  cents  an  acre  for  labor  only. 

Agriculture.— Crops  are  raised  only  for  home  consumption.  For  1892  there  were 
sown  300  acres  to  wheat,  1,000  to  oats,  and  3,000  to  barley;  20,800  acres  were  devoted  to 
hay.  Potatoes  and  other  hardy  vegetables  are  raised.  The  same  conditions  mainly 
govern  crops  under  this  head,  as  in  the  States  of  Indiana  and  Ohio.  Peas  and  alfalfa 
are  grown  in  a  small  way. 

Horticulture.— Only  the  hardier  fruits  are  safe  here  against  early  and  late  frosts. 
The  most  excellent  apples  are  raised;  also,  to  a  slight  extent,  peaches,  pears,  plums, 
apricots,  cherries,  almonds,  walnuts,  and  small  fruits.  There  are  93  acres  of  fruit  in 
bearing,  of  which  68  are  apples.    About  250,000  pounds  of  fruit  were  produced  in  1892. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying.— Much  attention  is  given  to  the  making  of  butter  of 
excellent  quality,  and  many  tons  are  produced  yearly.  Not  enough  hogs  are  raised 
to  supply  the  demand,  and  scarcely  any  sheep  are  to  be  found  in  the  county.  The 
Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  1,501  horses  and  3,867  cattle.  This  should  be  one  of 
the  best  dairy  counties  in  the  State. 

Prices  of  Products. — Apples,  2  cents;  peaches,  pears,  and  plums,  4  cents;  all  berries, 
10  cents  per  pound;  potatoes,  l}4  cents  per  pound;  chickens,  $4  to  $6  per  dozen;  turkeys, 
from  $1  25  to  $2  each. 

Lumber.— There  are  twenty  saw  mills  and  two  shingle  factories;  annual  output, 
15,000,000  feet  of  lumber  and  1,500,000  shingles.  The  timber,  like  that  of  adjoining 
counties,  is  practically  inexhaustible. 

Mining.— The  chief  industry  of  the  county  is  mining.  There  are  many  quartz,  drift, 
and  hydraulic  mines.    Much  foreign  capital  has  recently  been  invested  in  these  prop- 


CALIFORNIA.    AND    HER    RESOURCES.  79 

erties.  The  annual  output  of  gold  is  about  $1,500,000,  which  will  be  vastly  increased 
when  hydraulic  mining  is  resumed.  There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  former 
great  gold  yield  of  this  county  will  be  surpassed  in  the  near  future.  This  is  an  inviting 
field  for  the  prospector  and  for  mining  capital. 

Prices  of  Land. — Unimproved  arable  lands  can  be  bought  for  :f5  an  acre;  grain  and 
hay  land  for  $30. 

SISKIYOU. 

Siskiyou  County  is  bounded  north  by  the  State  of  Oregon,  east  by  Modoc  County, 
south  by  Trinity  and  Shasta,  and  west  by  Humboldt  and  Del  Norte. 

Statistics.— Area,  6,078  square  miles,  or  3,889,820  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
2,400,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,468,788  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
18,422,386.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.50.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  83.18; 
assessed  at  $1,454,167.  County  property,  $30,000.  County  debt,  $90,300.  Number  of 
schools,  77.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,846.  School  money,  $55,758  72. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  12,140. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Yreka,  the  county  seat,  population  1,600,  is 
located  in  about  the  center  of  the  county,  6  miles  from  the  main  line  of  the  California 
and  Oregon  Railroad,  w'ith  which  it  is  connected  by  a  branch  line  to  Montague.  Its 
altitude  is  2,540  feet.  It  has  fine  county  buildings,  high  and  other  schools,  two  news- 
papers, good  hotels,  and  excellent  brick  blocks,  and  has  recently  built  new  waterworks. 
It  has  been  prosperous  the  past  year.  Other  towns  are  Fort  Jones,  with  large  flour 
mills,  bank,  and  business  houses;  Etna  Mills,  with  flour  mills,  etc.;  Callahan's  Ranch, 
Sawyer's  Bar,  Oro  Fino,  Sisson,  Motts,  Dunsmuir,  and  Montague,  the  latter  a  thriving 
railroad  town. 

Topography. — The  Coast  Range  and  Sierra  Nevada  meet  in  this  county.  There  are 
about  576,000  acres  of  valley  and  tillable  land,  the  rest  is  mountainous  in  the  extreme. 
The  principal  valleys  are  Scott,  Big  and  Little  Shasta,  and  Butte  Creek,  where  most  of 
the  grain  and  fruits  are  raised.  Big  Shasta  is  mostly  grazing  land.  The  mountains  are 
very  rugged,  and  covered  with  timber.  INIount  Shasta  stands  sentinel,  at  the  head  of  the 
Sacramento  Valley,  with  an  altitude  of  14,450  feet,  and  covered  with  perpetual  snow.  In 
the  northeast  are  extensive  lava  beds.  Siskiyou  forms  a  part  of  a  high  plateau  which 
extends  into  Modoc  and  Lassen  Counties,  and  is  from  3,500  to  4,000  feet  elevation, 
surrounded  by  volcanic  mountains.  The  principal  rivers  are  the  Klamath,  with  its 
large  branches,  viz.:  the  Shasta,  Scott,  Trinity,  and  Salmon.  The  Sacramento  rises  in 
the  southeast  of  this  county,  and  most  of  the  McCloud  is  also  contained  within  its 
boundaries. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  the  valleys  is  mostly  a  rich  black  loam,  especially  Scott  and  Little 
Shasta,  which  are  the  most  fertile  and  cultivated.  Big  Shasta  is  mostly  grazing,  though 
fertile  with  irrigation. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  like  that  of  the  Middle  States,  though  milder  in  winter. 
Extreme  heat  of  summer,  94°;  extreme  cold  of  winter,  4°  below  zero.  Average,  summer, 
65°,  and  winter  40°.  Average  rainfall,  33  inches.  Heavy  snows  fall  in  the  mountains 
and  much  in  the  valleys.    Winter  travel  is  often  on  snow  shoes  among  the  hills. 

Irrigation. — There  is  a  scheme  on  foot  to  take  50,000  miner's  inches  from  the  Klamath 
River  to  irrigate  130,000  acres  of  Big  Shasta  Valley,  and  also  to  be  used  in  a  flume  for 
carrying  lumber.  It  will  be  completed  in  about  two  years.  Cereals,  fruits,  and  general 
crops  are  grown  without  irrigation  in  the  fertile  valleys. 

Agriculture.— The  grain  and  hay  product  of  Scott  and  Little  Shasta  Valleys  is 
very  large.  Much  wheat  is  used  by  the  local  mills.  Hardy  vegetables  grow  abundantly 
anywhere  in  the  valleys.  The  grain  crops  are  sure,  and  the  yield  per  acre  is  abcmt  40 
bushels  in  Scott  and  Little  Shasta.  The  Assessor  reports  seeded  in  1892,  wheat,  16,914 
acres;  oats,  2,596;  barley,  4,370;  corn,  47;  hay,  53,940. 

Horticulture.— Apples  are  the  main  product.  The  total  acreage  in  fruits  is  1,584— 
bearing,  895;  not  bearing,  689.  Of  this,  1,212  acres  are  in  apples.  There  were  140  car- 
loads of  fruit  shipped  during  last  season,  many  to  Chicago,  Boston,  and  New  York. 
The  other  fruits  raised  are  pears,  plums,  peaches,  cherries,  etc.,  only  in  small  orchanls 
for  home  use,  and  liable  to  fail  from  early  and  late  frosts.  The  average  price  paid  for 
apples  is  1)4  cents  per  pound,  on  the  tree. 


80  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Stock  and  Dairying.— The  dairy  products  of  Siskiyou,  like  those  of  other  well- 
wooded  and  watered  mountain  counties  in  the  nortliern  part  of  the  State,  have  an 
excellent  quality  and  wide  reputation.  The  main  industry,  however,  is  stock  raising. 
The  Assessor  reports  8,242  horses,  27,978  cattle  (mostly  stock),  3,328  hogs,  728  mules,  12,050 
sheep,  65  goats,  and  698  dozen  poultry.  There  are  large  grass  ranges  in  the  county,  and 
most  of  the  stock  is  driven  to  warmer  quarters  in  winter. 

Timber. — The  mountains  are  mainly  timbered  with  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  red  fir,  and 
cedar.  One  of  the  most  valuable  sugar  pine  belts  in  the  State  begins  about  one  mile 
from  Edgewood,  and  much  of  this  has  been  bought  up  since  the  advent  of  the  Oregon 
and  California  Railroad.    Several  saw  mills  are  in  operation. 

Mining.— The  output  of  the  precious  metals  is  constantly  increasing.  The  gold- 
bearing  area  is  very  extensive,  and  the  methods  of  working  very  diversified.  There  are 
large  areas  of  virgin  hydraulic  ground,  which  will  become  dividend-paying  property  so 
soon  as  a  sufficient  supply  of  water  for  working  purposes  is  available.  In  the  Klamath, 
at  Honolulu,  and  other  points  above  Humbug  Bar,  river  mining  is  extensively  carried 
on,  with  good  yields.  The  R.  H.  Campbell  Mining  Company  (limited),  an  English  corpo- 
ration, has  acquired  several  hundred  acres  of  hydraulic  and  drift  ground,  which  they  will 
work  extensively.  Callahan's  Ranch  district  has  greatly  increased  its  output  for  the 
year.  In  the  Salmon  River  section  the  old  quartz  mines  are  doing  as  well  as  formerly. 
This  district  has  lost  none  of  its  prestige  as  the  leading  gold  producer  of  the  county. 
The  county  has  also  iron,  coal,  copper,  cinnabar,  marble,  stone,  onyx,  etc.  The  mineral 
resources  of  the  county  are  inexhaustible. 

Prices  of  Land. — Much  Government  land  can  be  obtained.  Private  grazing  lands 
can  be  bought  for  $2  50  an  acre,  and  good  agricultural  lands  from  $20  to  $50,  according 
to  quality  and  location. 

Places  of  Resort. — For  mountain  scenery,  trout  fishing,  hunting,  and  pure  bracing 
atmosphere,  no  part  of  the  State  affords  any  more  delightful  ground  in  the  summer. 
Sisson  is  a  noted  place  of  resort. 

SOLANO. 

Solano  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Yolo  County,  on  the  east  by  Sacramento, 
south  by  the  Sacramento  River  and  Suisun  and  San  Pablo  Bays  and  Straits  of  Carquinez, 
and  west  by  Napa  County. 

Statistics.— Area,  828  square  miles,  or  529,920  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
2,500  acres.  Lands  assessed,  515,828  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$19,949,304.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.20.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  73.45; 
assessed  at  $979,055.  County  property,  $90,000.  County  debt,  $32,285  57.  Number  of 
schools,  52.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  4,513.  School  money,  $97,946  88. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  20,485. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Suisun  and  Fairfield  are  practically  one  town; 
Fairfield  is  the  county  seat.  There  are  substantial  county  buildings;  the  towns  have 
banks,  newspapers,  substantial  business  blocks,  large  warehouses,  and  manufactories, 
and  are  the  center  of  a  large  fruit-shipping  section. 

Vallejo,  the  chief  city,  located  on  the  bay  of  the  same  name  and  connected  by  water 
and  rail  with  San  Francisco,  has  a  population  of  6,000.  The  city  has  banks,  daily  news- 
papers, fine  schools  and  churches,  good  sewerage  system,  water,  gas,  and  electric  light 
works,  and  all  the  appliances  of  a  modern  city.  The  new  water  system,  just  inaugurated, 
to  bring  water  a  distance  of  14  miles,  will  add  much  to  the  comfort  and  growth  of  the 
city.  Its  manufacturing  interests  are  large.  It  has  one  of  the  largest  flour  mills  of  the 
State,  extensive  brick  and  terra  cotta  works,  and  leather  manufactories.  Its  waterfront 
of  9  miles  admits  the  largest  sea-going  vessels. 

Benicia,  population  2,600,  also  located  on  tide  water,  is  noted  for  its  educational  insti- 
tutions, tlie  United  States  Government  arsenal,  large  tanneries,  which  ship  leather  to 
many  Eastern  cities,  ship-yards,  agricultural  implement  works,  salmon  canneries,  and 
other  industries.    Its  manufactured  products  amount  to  $2,500,000  annually. 

Dixon,  the  leading  town  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  county,  is  in  the  heart  of 
a  large  farming  country.  Its  population  is  1,100.  It  has  banks,  hotels,  large  lumber 
yards,  fine  business  blocks,  and  extensive  warehouses. 


I 


■I  s 


a 


CALIFORNIA    AXD     HER     RESOURCES,  81 

Vacaville,  the  great  center  of  fruit  production  and  shipping,  population  1,000,  ia 
located  on  a  branch  railroad,  6  miles  frojn  main  line,  and  is  a  prosperous  and  growing 
place.  During  the  year  many  new  residences  have  been  erected,  several  handstune 
churches,  large  business  blocks,  and  a  $25,000  hotel.  It  has  tine  streets  and  sidewalks, 
and  good  bunking  facilities.  Other  important  towns  are  Elmira,  Kio  Vista,  Uinghampton, 
llockville,  Collinsville,  and  Bird's  Landing. 

The  Navy  Yard.— Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  is  located  in  this  county,  and  its  presence 
contributes  largely  to  the  business  activity  of  Vallejo. 

Topography.— Of  its  area  100,000  acres  are  swamp  and  overflowed  land,  bordering 
on  the  Sacramento  River  and  Suisun  and  San  Pablo  Bays.  In  the  southeast  the  Mon- 
tezuma Hills  rise  300  feet  above  tide  water,  and  are  intersected  by  narrow  ravines. 
In  the  southwest  are  the  Townsend  Hills,  of  nearly  the  same  character.  About  two 
thirds  of  the  county  can  be  classed  as  valley  lands;  the  remainder  is  foothills.  A  series 
of  rolling  hills,  spurs  from  the  Coast  Range,  extends  from  Vacaville  to  I'utah  Creek, 
averaging  about  3  miles  wide,  the  slopes  and  small  valleys  of  which  are  noted  for  early 
fruits.  On  the  west  of  these  hills  lies  Pleasant  Valley,  extending  to  Putah  Creek.  The 
crest  of  the  Vaca  Mountains  forms  the  dividing  line  between  Solano  and  Napa  Counties 
on  the  west.    These  mountains  reach  about  2,000  feet  altitude. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  the  swamps  and  overflow  is  formed  of  decayed  vegetable  mold  and 
sedimentary  deposits.  In  the  Sacramento  Valley  portion  it  is  a  light  sandy  loam.  In 
the  trough  of  Vaca  Valley  it  varies  from  sandy  to  clayey  loam  and  sometimes  to  adobe. 
Through  the  hilly  land  east  and  northeast  of  Ulattis  Creek,  the  soil  varies  from  sandy 
to  clayey.  The  soil  in  the  western  portion  varies  from  1  to  10  feet  in  depth,  with  sand- 
stone or  shale  underlying.  Vaca  Valley  is  about  12  miles  long  and  2  miles  wide.  It  is 
protected  by  surrounding  hills  and  has  a  deep,  rich  soil. 

Climate. — The  southern  and  southwestern  portions,  on  the  bay,  have  a  climate  very 
cool  and  of  even  temperature,  influenced  by  the  bay  and  ocean  breezes.  In  the  interior 
valleys  and  in  the  northeastern  plains,  the  summers  are  warm  and  sometimes  hot, 
running  up  to  110°.  The  rainfall  varies  greatly  according  to  locality;  average  annual 
precipitation,  Benicia,  14.67;  Vallejo,  14.55;  Suisun,  20.10;  Vacaville,  29.44  inches. 

Irrigation. — No  irrigation  systems  are  found  in  this  county.  Any  irrigation  resorted 
to  is  obtained  from  wells,  windmills,  and  pumps.  For  the  production  of  fruits  and 
cereals  none  is  required. 

Agriculture.— The  raising  of  wheat  and  barley  is  confined  principally  to  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  county.  The  yield  is  large  and  the  farmers  are  prosperous.  Dixon  is  the 
main  center  of  this  grain  region.  From  20  to  50  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre  have  been 
harvested  for  a  series  of  years.  The  certainty  of  crops  is  one  feature  of  this  section. 
The  Assessor  reports  for  1892,  wheat,  83,886  acres;  barley,  31,359.  As  a  matter  of  course, 
a  large  amount  of  vegetables  of  all  kinds  is  raised  in  the  county,  especially  in  the  fruit 
sections,  where  small  farms  are  the  rule,  and  cultivation  more  perfect.  Their  earliness 
creates  a  large  demand  at  high  prices  in  the  San  Francisco  market. 

Horticulture.— The  distinguishing  feature  of  the  Vacaville  and  adjoining  fruit  sec- 
tions is  the  earliness  of  its  fruits.  Cherries  are  often  shipped  by  April  1st,  apricots  early 
in  May,  and  all  other  fruits  proportionately  early  through  the  fruit  season.  This  gives 
the  advantage  of  higher  prices  to  the  fruit  growers.  Cherries  open  at  about  20  cents  a 
pound;  apricots,  25  cents;  peaches,  20  cents.  The  principal  fruit  sections  are  Suisun  and 
Vacaville.  One  of  the  largest  orchards  in  the  State  is  near  the  former  place,  comprising 
nearly  800  acres  in  full  bearing,  in  almonds,  cherries,  peaches,  i)ears,  plums,  prunes, 
apricots,  nectarines,  figs,  grapes,  currants,  and  gooseberries.  Fruits  mature  in  Vaca 
Valley  from  ten  days  to  three  weeks  earlier  than  in  most  other  sections  of  the  State. 
The  shipments  to  the  East  and  to  San  Francisco  in  1891  were  1,0:J4  carloads,  or  10,340 
tons,  of  which  one  fourth  was  dried  fruit.  All  this  should  represent  a  green  fruit  prod- 
uct of  over  40,000,000  pounds.  The  figures  for  1892  are  not  at  hand,  but  the  shipments  arc 
estimated  at  one  fourth  more,  allowing  for  increase  in  number  of  bearing  trees.  In  lM!i2 
a  number  of  carloads  were  shipped  direct  to  New  York,  and  thence  by  ocean  steamer  to 
England,  where  they  were  sold  to  great  advantage.  Prices  received  for  fruits  in  1892 
average  about  as  follows:  Pears,  2)4  cents  per  pound;  peaches,  2  to  2>4  cents;  apricots, 
i%  cents;  cherries,  about  10  cents.  It  is  difTicult  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  the  Eastern 
shipments  of  fruit  from  Solano  County,  as  they  are  billed  from  Sacramento  as  the  rail- 


82  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

road  terminal  point.  There  are  18,900  acres  of  fruit  in  Solano  County,  of  which  12,442 
are  bearing  and  6,458  not  bearing.  Besides  tl^ere  is  probably  5,000  acres  of  vineyard 
not  included  in  above  estimate.  The  varieties  are  ranged  in  the  following  order  as 
to  acreage:  Peaches,  apricots,  pears,  prunes,  table  and  raisin  grapes,  almonds,  cherries, 
figs,  nectarines,  olives,  oranges,  walnuts,  apples,  and  lemons.  There  are  70  acres  in 
oranges  and  8  in  lemons  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Stock  Raising.— The  stock  interests  of  this  county  are  of  no  small  importance.  The 
stock  are  mostly  graded  and  of  fine  quality.  Dairying  is  an  important  industry  in  the 
county.  The  tule  and  overflowed  lands  afford  excellent  opportunity  for  raising  cheaply 
a  large  number  of  hogs.  The  Assessor  reports  9,783  horses,  15,530  cattle,  7,782  hogs,  1,567 
mules,  35,763  sheep,  and  2,795  dozen  poultry.    The  sheep  are  all  graded  stock. 

Transportation. — The  California  Pacific  Railroad  runs  from  Benicia  and  Yallejo 
through  the  county  to  Sacramento,  and  connects  at  Napa  Junction  with  road  to  Santa 
Rosa,  Sonoma  County.  From  Elmira  the  branch  railroad  runs  to  Vacaville  and  Winters. 
The  Sacramento  River  and  Suisun  Bay  afford  water  transportation. 

Minerals.— The  mineral  resources  of  the  county  are  not  extensive,  being  mostly  con- 
fined to  deposits  of  onyx  and  marble  in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  the  products  of 
which  are  extensively  used  in  San  Francisco  and  the  East. 

Springs.— The  Tolenas  Soda  Springs  are  a  few  miles  from  Vallejo;  much  money 
has  been  expended  in  improvements.  The  waters  possess  carbonic  acid  gas  and  various 
medicinal  ingredients,  supposed  to  be  of  great  benefit  to  various  complaints. 

Prices  of  Land. — In  the  warm  valleys  of  the  fruit  sections  improved  lands  are  worth 
from  |50  to  $500  an  acre.  In  the  northern  part  they  range  from  $20  to  $50.  In  the 
extreme  foothills  from  $2  50  to  $10. 

SONOMA. 

Sonoma  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mendocino,  east  by  Lake  and  Napa,  south 
by  San  Pablo  Bay  and  Marin  County,  and  west  by  Marin  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,500  square  miles,  or  960,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  40,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  838,751  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$30,860,796.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.05.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
160.97;  assessed  at  $1,627,060.  County  property,  $370,000.  County  debt,  $224,500.  Number 
of  schools,  189.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  8,500.  School  money,  $154,504  52. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  32,691. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Santa  Rosa,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population 
of  5,500,  is  situated  near  the  center  of  the  county,  and  is  connected  by  rail  with  Ukiah, 
Mendocino  County,  on  the  north,  Napa  and  Sacramento  on  the  east,  and  Petaluma  and 
San  Francisco  on  the  south.  The  city  is  an  elegant  place  of  residence.  Many  San  Fran- 
cisco business  men  have  fine  properties  here.  It  is  the  center  of  a  large  fruit  and  wine 
district,  and  is  a  busy  and  prosperous  place.  It  has  two  immense  wineries,  numerous 
manufactories  of  flour,  woolen  goods,  leather,  iron  products,  canned  fruits,  doors,  sash, 
blinds,  and  moldings,  has  four  banks,  two  daily  and  four  weekly  newspapers,  four  street 
car  lines,  gas  and  water  works,  excellent  public  schools,  colleges,  and  seminaries,  and  is 
a  most  delightful  place  for  a  home.  A  $40,000  high  school  building  will  be  soon  among 
her  attractions.  The  city  has  lately,  by  vote,  resolved  to  construct  and  own  a  system  of 
waterworks. 

Petaluma,  the  next  place  of  importance,  has  a  population  of  3,700,  and  stands  at  the 
head  of  navigation,  and  is  the  center  of  the  butter,  poultry,  and  dairy  trade  of  the  coast. 
It  has  three  banks,  two  flour  mills,  a  cannery,  woolen  mill,  silk  factory,  three  newspapers, 
excellent  schools,  and  fine  churches. 

Ilealdsburg,  population  2,000,  is  surrounded  by  fruit  farms,  has  two  banks,  two  news- 
papers, a  cannery,  etc.  Here  is  located  the  Seventh  Day  Adventist  College.  Clover- 
dale,  in  the  north,  i&the  center  of  a  fine  fruit  belt.  It  possesses  a  bank,  newspaper,  five 
churches,  and  good  schools.  Sebastopol,  connected  by  a  branch  railroad  with  Santa  i 
Rosa,  has  in  its  vicinity  three  wineries,  twenty-five  fruit  driers,  and  fifteen  hop  driers. 
Glen  Ellen,  the  location  of  the  Home  for  Feeble-^Minded  Children,  is  the  center  of  a  i 
large  wine  district.  Duncan's  Mills  is  the  terminus  of  the  North  Pacific  Coast  Railroa4. 
There  are  also  numerous  other  flourishing  places. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKU     RKSOURCES.  83 

Topography. — The  eastern  boundary  of  tliis  county  is  the  main  Coast  Range,  whose 
highest  peak,  Mount  St.  Helena,  has  an  altitude  of  4,329  feet.  It  touches  San  Pablo 
Bay  on  the  south,  which  gives  water  communication  with  San  Francisco.  There  are 
200,000  acres  of  valley  land,  200,000  of  rolling,  or  high  table  land,  200,000  acres  of  foothill 
land,  100,000  acres  of  mountain  land,  adapted  to  grazing,  and  about  80,000  acres  of  mag- 
nificent redwood  timber.  The  largest  valley  in  the  county  begins  at  I'etaluma,  and 
continues  in  a  direct  line  to  Cloverdalc,  on  the  north.  The  Sonoma  Valley  begins  at 
the  baJ^  and  runs  northerly  20  miles.  There  are  18  miles  of  bay  shore-line,  and  more 
than  60  miles  of  ocean  shore-line.  The  streams  are  the  Russian  River,  running  south- 
westerly through  the  county,  and  draining  three  fifths  of  its  land;  Petaluma  Creek,  and 
Sonoma  Creek.  Petaluma  Creek  is  navigable  for  vessels  of  light  draught.  Small 
streams  are  numerous  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  Petaluma  and  Sonoma  Valleys  are 
separated  from  the  Santa  Rosa  basin  by  a  slight  divide,  just  sufficient  to  divide  the 
watershed  into  south  and  north  slopes.  On  the  west  is  the  Coast  Range;  southeast  is 
Sonoma  Mountain,  2,400  feet  high.  Bennett  Peak  and  Mounts  Taylor  and  Ilood  are 
farther  north.  Away  northeast  is  Ceyser  Peak,  3,740  feet  high,  and  beyond,  St.  Helena 
overlooks  the  whole  scene.  High  up  these  mountain  slopes  are  many  of  the  finest 
homesteads  of  the  county. 

Soils. — Four  fifths  of  the  county's  area  is  cultivable.  In  the  valleys  is  rich  alluvial 
soil,  in  the  foothills  a  light,  sandy  soil,  with  clay  subsoil.  The  hill  soil  is  mixed  witli 
basalt  bowlders.  The  proximity  of  these  bowlders  seems  to  stimulate  vine  growth.  In 
the  Ilealdsburg  district  the  soil  is  a  deep  rich  loam  in  the  valleys,  and  red  in  the  foot- 
hills, and  exceedingly  fertile.  The  southwest  quarter  of  the  county  is  a  rich,  red,  creta- 
ceous land,  varyingly  covered  from  six  inches  to  a  great  depth  with  a  very  fine,  rich, 
sandy  loam,  seemingly  drifted  by  winds  over  the  first  coast  range.  This  is  wonderfully 
fine  fruit  soil. 

Climate.— Mean  annual  temperature  at  Santa  Rosa,  57°.  In  summer  it  is  seldom  above 
85°.  On  some  rare  occasions  in  winter  the  thermometer  registers  32°.  The  mercury 
seldom  goes  below  37°.  Some  snow  falls  on  the  surrounding  hills,  but  very  rarely  in  the 
valleys;  it  is  very  light,  and  never  "comes  to  stay  "  a  day.  The  average  annual  rainfall 
is  obtained  from  forty  years'  observation,  and  is  about  27.5  inches  at  Santa  Rosa,  and 
nearly  50  per  cent  greater  at  Cloverdale  and  above.  In  forty  years  there  have  been  no 
crop  failures,  and  no  irrigation  is  required  in  this  county. 

Agriculture. — The  principal  lines  of  agriculture  are  wheat,  oats,  corn,  barley,  hay, 
hops,  potatoes,  tomatoes,  and  every  conceivable  line  of  vegetable  products.  The  hop 
area  is  about  1,000  acres,  and  the  yield  is  about  2,000,000  pounds.  There  are  10  flour 
mills  which  work  on  the  wheat  product.  The  southern  portion  turns  out  the  most  hay, 
the  eastern  slopes  produce  hops,  the  northern  and  western  parts  are  fine  dairy  country. 
The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  9,740  acres  of  wheat,  5,810  of  oats,  8,715  of  barley,  4,210 
-of  corn,  and  8,965  of  hay.    Tons  of  vegetable  products  are  shipped  to  San  Francisco. 

Horticulture. — Fruit  raising  is  the  main  industry  of  Sonoma,  and  in  this  she  takes  a 
front  rank.  There  are  12,637  acres  of  orchard,  of  which  7,989  are  bearing  and  4,648  not 
bearing.  The  new  plantings  are  1,426  acres.  The  varieties  in  above  occur  in  the  follow- 
ing order  of  importance:  Apples,  4,121  acres;  prunes,  2,599;  peaches,  2,507;  pears,  1,407; 
table  grapes,  627;  olives,  607;  cherries,  317;  apricots,  229;  walnuts,  80;  almonds,  70;  figs, 
51;  plums,  20.  Berries  are  always  and  everywhere  a  sure  and  abundant  crop.  The 
leading  fruit  districts  are  Healdsburg,  Cloverdale,  Sebastopol,  Santa  Rosa,  Green  Valley, 
Petaluma,  and  Sonoma.  Most  of  the  fruits  are  dried  or  canned,  though  large  quantities 
are  shipped  green.  There  are  eight  to  ten  large  packing  establishments  in  Santa  Rosa, 
Petaluma,  Sonoma,  and  elsewhere,  which  consume  about  30,000,000  pounds  of  fruit  in  a 
season.  Citrus  fruits  are  extensively  raised  around  Cloverdale,  and  do  well.  Sonoma 
stands  second  in  olive  growing  to  Santa  Barbara,  and  in  prunes  to  Santa  Clara  County. 

Viticulture.— Notwithstanding  this  immense  fruit  output,  the  vineyard  and  wine 
interests  are  still  greater.  There  are  over  22,000  acres  in  vineyard,  the  product  of  wliidi 
is  mainly  consumed  in  making  wine  and  brandy.  The  brands  of  Sonoma  clarets,  bur- 
gundies, hocks,  rieslings,  and  other  wines  have  a  national  and  even  a  foreign  reputation. 
There  are  enormous  vineyards  and  wineries  distributed  throughout  the  county;  at 
Healdsburg,  Windsor,  Cloverdale,  Glen  Ellen,  Santa  Rosa,  and  other  sections.  About 
3,000,000  gallons  of  wine  are  produced  annually,  and  40,000  gallons  of  brandy. 


84  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

Stock  and  Dairying. — The  raising  of  stock  and  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese 
is  a  large  business  in  this  county.  Petalunia  is  the  chief  center  of  shipments  and  trade. 
Over  3,000,000  pounds  of  butter  and  about  500,000  pounds  of  cheese  are  made  annually. 
The  wool  interest  is  heavy  also,  the  clip  being  about  1,000,000  pounds.  There  are  many 
fine  breeds  of  stock— horses,  cattle,  and  sheep.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows: 
Horses,  93,521;  cattle,  27,038  (of  which  about  18,000  are  cows);  hogs,  11,910;  mules,  315; 
sheep,  94,010;  goats,  335;  poultry,  4,910  dozen. 

Timtoer.— There  are  about  19  saw  mills  in  the  county  engaged  in  working  up  the  mag- 
nificent redwood  forests  in  the  western  portion  of  the  county,  especially  in  the  Eussian 
River  bottoms.  About  60,000,000  feet  are  cut  annually,  and  over  10,000,000  shingles.  Con- 
siderable laurel  and  madrona  are  found,  also  chestnut  oak  for  tan  bark,  live  oak,  and 
burr  oak;  the  latter  is  found  in  all  the  valleys.  Guerneville  is  the  lumber  center,  and  has 
shipped  more  bulk  freight  than  any  town  in  the  county. 

Minerals.— Cinnabar,  or  quicksilver,  is  the  principal  mineral  deposit.  Coal  is  worked 
in  some  localities.  The  quarrying  of  basalt  paving  blocks  is  quite  an  industry.  Near 
Sebastopol  are  tinted  ochres  and  other  minerals.  Potter's  clay  and  gypsum  are  also 
found.    The  coal  beds  recently  discovered  on  Mark  West  Creek  are  being  developed. 

Places  of  Resort  and  Interest.— The  mountains  abound  in  mineral  springs  and  health 
resorts,  the  most  noted  being  the  Geysers.  The  "  Petrified  Forest "  is  also  an  object  of 
interest. 

Prices  of  Land. — Prices  of  land  in  this  county,  which  is  so  well  settled  and  highly 
cultivated  and  developed,  must  necessarily  be  high,  but  they  are  not  high  considering 
the  productiveness  and  the  income-producing  capacities.  The  settler  of  some  means 
will  find  a  delightful  home  in  this  county. 

STANISLAUS. 

Stanislaus  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  San  Joaquin  and  Calaveras  Counties,  east  hj 
Calaveras  and  Tuolumne,  south  by  Merced,  and  west  by  Santa  Clara. 

Statistics. — Area,  1,450  square  miles,  or  928,500  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  100,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  828,517  acres.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  property, 
$17,083,750.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.35.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  79.49; 
assessed  at  $927,308.  County  property,  $70,850.  County  debt,  $25,504.  Number  of  schools, 
70.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,371.  School  money,  $62,205  57.  Popula- 
tion, census  of  1890,  9,992. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Modesto,  the  county  seat,  population  2,500,  has 
first-class  county  buildings,  substantial  business  blocks,  good  hotels,  schools,  churches, 
two  banks,  two  newspapers,  water  and  gas  works,  good  streets  and  sewers,  flour  and 
planing  mills,  and  large  grain  warehouses. 

Oakdale,  on  the  Stanislaus  River,  14  miles  northeast  of  Modesto,  population  1,200, 
is  the  center  of  a  large  grain  and  fruit  region.  It  has  a  bank,  two  newspapers,  four 
hotels,  fine  Odd  Fellows  and  Masonic  buildings,  waterworks,  large  machine  and  wagon 
shops,  and  several  large  grain  warehouses.  Knight's  Ferry,  in  the  foothills,  has  fine- 
orange  groves,  vineyards,  winery,  and  flour  mills.  Other  towns  are  Waterford,  Mont- 
pelier,  La  Grange,  Ceres,  Turlock,  Grayson,  and  Newman— all  grain-shipping  places  with 
large  warehouses. 

Topography.— The  county  extends  from  the  Sierra  foothills  on  the  east  to  the  Coast 
Range  on  the  west.  The  San  Joaquin  River  flows  north  through  the  center  of  the 
county.  The  Stanislaus  and  Tuolumne  Rivers  flow  west  from  the  Sierra,  nearly  parallel 
about  10  miles  apart,  and  empty  into  the  San  Joaquin.  The  San  Joaquin  is  navigable 
for  eight  months  of  the  year.  The  greater  portion  of  the  county  is  level  plains,  lowest 
near  the  San  Joaquin,  and  having  on  the  Stanislaus  and  Tuolumne  bottoms  three- 
benches  of  land. 

Soils.- On  the  east  side  of  the  San  Joaquin  the  soil  is  generally  sandy  loam,  becom- 
ing somewhat  lieavier  as  you  approach  the  foothills.  Along  the  river  bottoms  is  found 
a  rich  sedimentary  alluvial  soil  of  great  depth.  The  west  side  of  the  San  Joaquin  is  a. 
rich  loam  of  great  depth,  and,  with  irrigation,  wonderfully  fertile.  Both  the  east  and 
west  side  lands  are  excellent  for  grain  and  fruit,  but  the  east  side  has  more  rainfall  and 
moisture,  and  the  grain  crops  are  surer. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     UER     RESOURCES.  85 

Climate. — The  climate  is  like  that  of  Merced  and  Fresno  Counties,  though  not  quite 
as  warm  in  summer.  The  mercury  sometimes  reaches  110"  in  July  or  August,  but  only 
a  few  days.  From  the  middle  of  September  to  the  middle  of  .June  no  more  delightful 
climate  could  be  desired.  The  average  rainfall  is  about  10  inches  at  Modesto,  13  inches 
at  Oakdale,  and  more  still  at  Knight's  Ferry,  in  the  foothills. 

Irrigation.— Irrigation  is  recognized  as  essential  to  bring  out  the  best  results  of  the 
rich  lands  of  this  county,  and  a  grand  system  is  now  being  built  under  the  Wright  Act 
A  stone  and  concrete  dam  at  La  Grange,  on  the  Tuolumne,  is  being  constructed  at  a 
cost  of  $500,000,  which,  when  completed,  will  be  129  feet  high,  20  feet  thick  and  ;J20  feet 
long  at  the  top,  and  90  feet  thick  and  60  feet  long  at  the  base.  This  will  be  the  highest 
weir  dam  in  the  United  States,  and  will  have  an  overflow  at  high  water  of  over  IGO.OOO 
cubic  feet  a  second.  This  reservoir  will  supply  the  Turlock  district,  south  of  the  Tuol- 
umne, 177,000  acres,  and  the  Modesto  district,  north,  81,000  acres.  The  cost  of  the  entire 
system  will  be  ."^l.lOOjOOO,  and  the  cost  of  water  per  acre  will  be  about  the  same  as  under 
similar  systems  in  Fresno  and  Tulare. 

Agriculture.— This  county  has,  on  several  occasions,  proved  the  banner  wheat 
district  of  the  State,  raising  over  5,000,000  bushels  of  wheat  in  1872,  and  6,500,000  bushels 
in  1882.  Its  annual  crops  of  wheat,  barley,  and  hay  are  still  immense.  The  east  side  ia 
generally  sure  for  a  crop.  In  extremely  wet  seasons,  the  product  on  the  west  side  is 
enormous.  Around  Modesto  and  Oakdale  immense  quantities  of  vegetables,  corn,- 
potatoes,  tomatoes,  and  alfalfa  are  raised,  especially  along  the  rich  bottoms  of  the 
Stanislaus  and  Tuolumne  Rivers.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892,  wheat,  260,339  acres; 
oats,  215;  barley,  35,163;  corn,  90;  hay,  1,800.  The  warehouse  storage  capacity  of  the 
county  is  immense— at  Oakdale,  Waterford,  Montpelier,  Modesto,  Ceres,  Turlock,  and 
convenient  railroad  points  between.  The  grain  is  harvested  with  combined  harvesters, 
which  head  the  grain  and  dump  it  off  sacked  in  the  rear  of  the  machine. 

Horticulture. — Fruit  raising  is  carried  on  at  Modesto,  Oakdale,  and  Knight's  Ferry, 
especially  along  the  river  bottoms,  where  thorough  cultivation  and  porous,  damp 
soil  render  irrigation  unnecessary.  Some  places  use  deep  wells  and  steam  pumps,  or 
pump  from  the  rivers.  Y\'lien  the  irrigation  system  is  completed,  a  much  larger  area 
will  be  devoted  to  fruit  and  vines.  All  varieties  of  fruits  do  well.  For  a  long  time, 
Knight's  Ferry  has  produced  large  quantities  of  the  finest  oranges  in  the  State.  The 
other  sections  also  successfully  produce  oranges.  The  leading  deciduous  fruits  are 
apricots,  peaches,  apples,  figs,  prunes,  and  pears.  Almonds  do  especially  well.  There 
are  1,306  acres  of  fruit  trees  in  tlie  county,  of  which  603  are  bearing  and  703  not  bearing, 
and  in  the  following  order  of  importance:  Peaches,  apricots,  apples,  pears,  figs,  oranges 
{112  acres),  prunes,  cherries,  almonds,  olives.  The  trees  on  the  river  bottoms  make 
enormous  growth,  and  bear  immense  crops.  There  are  many  acres  of  vineyard  in  the 
county.     Many  table  grapes  are  raised,  and  considerable  wine  and  brandy  produced. 

Stock  Raising. — There  are  large  bands  of  cattle  and  sheep  in  this  county,  most  of 
them  being  driven  to  the  mountains  of  Tuolumne  and  Alpine  Counties  for  summer 
range.  ]\Iuch  attention  is  paid  to  breeding  fine  horses,  and  excellent  grades  are  the 
result.  The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  10,784;  cattle,  14,069;  hogs,  6,780; 
mules,  4,255;  sheep,  61,976;  poultry,  2,630  dozen. 

Timber.— The  timber  of  Stanislaus,  used  mostly  for  fuel,  is  scattering  groves  of  white 
and  live  oak,  and  the  scrub  pines  of  the  foothills. 

Prices  of  Land.— Farming  lands  range  from  $25  to  $50  an  acre,  according  to  quality 
and  location.  The  best  bottom  fruit  lands  cannot  be  bought  for  less  than  $75  to  $100  an 
acre,  near  the  central  shipping  points.  Remote  from  the  towns  lands  are  much  cheaper. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  San  Joaquin  the  Miller  &  Lux  irrigation  canals  have  brought 
water  to  a  large  acreage,  which  is  now  being  devoted  in  small  tracts  to  alfalfa,  orchards, 
and  vineyards,  and  10-acre  and  20-acre  farms  are  no  longer  a  novelty. 

SUTTER. 

Sutter  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Butte  County,  east  by  Placer  and  Yuba, 
south  by  Sacramento,  and  west  by  Colusa  and  Yolo. 

Statistics.— Area,  610  square  miles,  or  390,400  acres.  Lands  assessed,  374,531  acres. 
Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property,  $9,533,010.    Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county, 


86  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

1.00.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  36.63;  assessed  at  |307,970.  County  property,  $52,000. 
County  debt,  $11,000.  Number  of  schools,  42.  iSchool  children  between  5  and  17  years, 
1,275.    School  money,  $31,794  61.     Population,  census  of  1890,  5,465. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Yuba  City,  the  county  seat,  is  located  on  Feather 
Hiver,  about  a  mile  from  Marysville,  in  Yuba  County,  with  which  place  it  is  connected 
by  street  car  line.  It  has  line  county  buildings,  bank,  excellent  schools,  newspapers,  and 
no  saloons,  as  a  prohibitory  law-  exists  in  the  county.  The  cannery  located  here  does  a 
large  business,  employing  500  people  during  the  packing  season.  Other  towns  are  Live 
Oak,  Meridian,  Sutter  City,  Nicolaus,  Pleasant  Grove,  etc. 

Topography.— This  small  and  fertile  county  has  the  Sacramento  River  for  its  western 
boundary,  and  is  the  only  one  in  the  State  which  lies  wholly  in  the  great  valley.  "With 
the  exception  of  the  isolated  Marysville  Buttes  in  the  northern  part,  it  is  one  great  plain. 
The  Buttes  furnish  excellent  grazing.  About  125,000  acres  of  the  county  are  tule,  or 
overflowed  lands.  The  northern  10,000  acres  of  this  body,  reclaimed  by  levee  system,  are 
immensely  fertile  and  very  valuable. 

Soils.— The  lands  are  mostly  dark  loams.  On  the  higher  elevations  some  gravelly 
clay;  north  and  south  for  some  distance  from  the  Buttes  are  some  stiff  adobe  soils,  also 
in  the  lower  grounds  south  of  Yuba  City  and  along  the  swamp  lands.  All  the  lands  are 
extremely  productive. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  similar  to  Yuba  County.    Perhaps  for  a  few  times  in  Janu- 
ary the  thermometer  may  mark  20°,  yet  the  mean  would  be  about  40°  for  the  month. 
The  mean  temperature  for  winter  is  47°.    The  extreme  for  summer  is  106°;  the  mean  '. 
76°.    Prevailing  south  winds  during  250  days  of  the  year  give  a  cool  and  refreshing 
atmosphere.    The  average  annual  rainfall  is  19^/^  inches. 

Irrigation.— No  irrigation  is  required  in  this  county,  except  in  special  and  limited 
situations  among  the  hills,  or  where  oranges  and  lemons  are  grown,  which  require  it  to 
some  extent. 

Agriculture.- The  lands  of  this  county  are  not  in  large  holdings.  Wheat  farming  is 
carried  on  at  a  minimum  expense,  and  the  yield  per  acre  is  often  40  to  50  bushels. 
Alfalfa,  the  king  of  forage  plants,  produces  three  or  four  crops  a  year  without  irrigation,  '• 
besides  affording  several  months  of  pasture.  Enormous  quantities  of  vegetables,  toma- 
toes, etc.,  are  raised,  and  hops  are  an  important  and  profitable  crop.  The  Assessor 
reports  for  1892,  wheat,  78,887  acres;  oats,  106;  barley,  19,887;  corn,  130;  hay,  8,421. 

Horticulture. — Fruit  raising  has  become  of  leading  importance.  The  crop  is  gen- 
erally sure  and  abundant.  The  acreage  in  fruit  trees  and  vines  is  about  4,000.  All  the  ' 
deciduous  and  citrus  fruits  flourish  here.  The  leading  varieties  in  order  of  importance 
are  peaches,  apricots,  grapes,  prunes,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  nectarines,  oranges,  figs 
lemons,  almonds,  apples,  olives,  and  berries.  About  16,000  tons  of  fruit  were  produced 
in  1892,  of  the  value  of  $480,000  net  at  the  orchard,  at  1}4  cents  a  pound,  though  in  many 
cases  higher  prices  were  obtained.  Most  of  the  fruits  go  to  the  canneries  at  Yuba  City, 
Marysville,  or  from  the  southern  districts  to  Sacramento  and  San  Francisco.  Much  is 
shipped  green  by  car  East,  and  a  large  quantity  dried.  The  cannery  at  Yuba  City 
packed  in  1892,  as  follows:  Peaches,  1,113  tons;  apricots,  170;  Bartlett  pears,  120;  plums, 
170;  grapes,  24— filling  1,080,000  cans,  and  shipped  155  carloads.  The  Briggs  Early  ^lay 
peach  originated  in  this  county.  The  Thompson  Seedless  grape  was  first  propagated  in  ' 
the  county.  This  small  grape,  entirely  seedless,  matures  early  and  evenly,  yields  from 
10  to  15  tons  to  the  acre  in  full  bearing,  and  is  easily  cured;  3^  pounds  of  grapes  make 
1  pound  of  raisins.  It  is  being  extensively  planted  all  over  the  interior  valleys.  The 
Muscat  grape  is  also  largely  grown  for  raisins.  There  are  2,845  acres  of  fruit  trees  in  the 
county— 1,811  bearing  and  1,0.34  not  bearing. 

Stock  Raising.— Stock  raising  and  dairying  are  important  interests.  Stock  are 
always  first  class  on  the  low  lands  bordering  the  tules  and  overflowed  districts,  and', 
the  large  acreage  in  alfalfa  furnishes  the  choicest  feed.  The  Assessor's  report  for 
1892  shows:  Horses,  5,816;  cattle,  7,493;  hogs,  8,839;  mules,  1,704;  sheep,  29,374;  poultry,; 
2,806  dozen. 

Transportation. — This  county  possesses  exceptional  advantages  in  the  transporta- 
tion of  its  products.  The  navigable  river  on  its  western  boundary  gives  cheap  carriage  . 
for  grain  and  fruits,  and  Marysville,  just  across  the  eastern  boundary,  is  a  terminal ; 
point  for  Eastern  freights.    The  railroad  to  Knight's  Landing  gives  outlet  to  San  Fran-^ 


CALIFORNIA     AND     TIER     RESOURCES.  87 

Cisco,  and  at  Marysville  is  the  Oregon  and  California,  connecting  witli  Portland  or 
Sacramento.     River  transportation  makes  low  rail  tariff. 

Prices  of  Land.— Unimproved  fruit  lands  in  the  fruit  districts  are  worth  from  |50  to 
$150  an  acre;  improved  orchards,  from  $200  to  $400  an  acre;  first-class  grain  laud,  from 
$40  to  $75.  Many  subdivisions  of  large  tracts  have  been  made,  and  are  in  the  market 
for  settlement. 

Socially  and  morally  this  county  holds  a  high  position.  Under  the  law  there  can  be 
no  saloon  in  the  county.  The  schools  are  of  the  best,  and  liberally  supported.  The 
people  are  law-abiding,  industrious,  and  progressive.  The  county  jail  is  empty,  and 
litigation  is  rare.    As  a  consequence,  the  tax  rate  is  low,  and  there  are  few  dclintiuents. 

TEHAMA. 

Tehama  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Shasta  County,  east  by  Plumas  and 
Butte,  south  by  Butte  and  Glenn,  and  west  by  Mendocino  and  Trinity. 

Statistics.— Area,  3,125  square  miles,  or  2,000,000  acres.  ITnentered  Ciovemment  land, 
500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,110,103  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$11,474,6(30.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.45.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  57.83; 
assessed  at  $847,128.  County  property,  $75,000.  County  debt,  $85,.500.  Number  of 
schools,  62.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,624.  School  money,  $56,068  27. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  9,878. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Red  Bluff,  the  county  seat,  population  2,508  in 
1890,  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Sacramento  River.  It  has  fine  county  buildings, 
excellent  hotels  (two  of  which  were  built  last  year),  two  banks,  two  daily  newspapers, 
excellent  school  buildings  and  churches.  Its  cannery,  organized  last  year,  put  up  10,000 
cases  of  fruit.  Its  large  sash  and  door  factory  turns  out  annually  45,000  doors,  30,000 
sash,  and  10,000  blinds.  A  70-mile  V  flume  brings  sugar  pine  lumber  here  from  the 
mountains.  The  business  blocks  and  residences  of  this  town  are  first  class,  many  of 
them  elegant,  and  adorned  with  shade  trees,  orange  trees,  shrubs,  and  flowers.  It  was 
formerly  the  head  of  navigation,  and  under  the  proposed  improvement  of  the  rivers  by 
the  United  States  bids  fair  to  resume  its  former  prominence  as  such.  Tehama,  the 
junction  of  two  railroads,  is  the  next  important  place.  It  has  fine  hotels,  business 
blocks,  Hour  mills,  and  immense  warehouses.  Vina  is  the  station  of  the  famous  Stanford 
vineyard.    There  are  other  minor  towns,  and  all  are  progressive  and  prosperous. 

Topography.— This  county  contains  about  2,000  square  miles  of  mountains,  and  795 
of  foothills.  There  are  265  miles  of  valley  lands,  or  169,600  acres.  The  Sacramento 
River  Hows  through  the  valley  from  north  to  south.  On  the  west  the  valley  rises  into 
low,  level  prairies,  then  into  broken  hills,  with  the  steep  and  rugged  Coast  Range 
beyond.  Numerous  streams  flow  east  into  the  Sacramento.  On  the  east  the  valley  is 
bounded  by  a  lava  flow,  extending  for  20  miles  or  more  up  the  western  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  which  beyond  become  very  precipitous,  and  rise  to  10,000  feet  altitude. 

SoUs.— Some  of  the  finest  soils  are  to  be  found  here.  They  are  mainly  alluvial,  and 
of  volcanic  origin.  On  both  banks  of  the  Sacramento  is  rich  alluvium.  On  the  east 
dark  brown,  almost  black  sandy  loam,  many  feet  deep.  Farther  east  slightly  rolling 
hills,  of  a  reddish  soil,  soon  running  into  the  lava.  On  the  west  the  plain  of  tillable 
lands  is  wider;  the  soil  is  of  a  reddish  tinge.  The  loamy  river  lands  merge  into  a  second 
bottom  of  clayey  loam;  then  the  sandier  soil  of  the  plains,  from  gray  to  brown  and  red; 
then  rolling  hills,  with  reddish  soil  and  gravelly  loam;  then  bald  hills  of  gray,  brown, 
red,  and  sometimes  black,  clayey  loam;  then  still  higher  hills  of  similar  soils,  ending  in 
the  pine-clad  Coast  Range. 

Climate.— Tehama  has  a  winterless  climate.  The  summer  extreme  is  108",  winter 
28°,  but  this  only  in  August  and  January,  and  for  a  short  period  only.  The  mean  annual 
temperature  is  63°.  The  mean  for  .lanuary  is  45°,  and  for  August  83°.  The  average 
rainfall  is  30  inches.  Cereals  never  knew  a  failure  in  this  county.  The  climate  of  Red 
Bluff  is  as  mild  as  that  of  Riverside,  over  300  miles  south. 

Irrigation.— There  are  68  miles  of  irrigating  ditches,  of  which  55  miles  belong  to  one 
ranch  and  vineyard.  The  waters  of  this  system  are  taken  from  Deer  ( "reek.  For  vege- 
tables, fruit,  and  alfalfa  irrigation  is  needed  to  give  the  best  results,  though  success  in 
many  orchards  is  obtained  without  irrigation. 


88  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

Agriculture.— The  grain  crop  of  Tehama  County  is  very  large.  The  average  yield  of 
■wheat  is  about  1,500.000  bushels  annually.  Immense  crops  of  alfalfa  are  grown,  one 
ranch  alone  producing  20,000  tons  a  year,  with  four  crops.  All  vegetables  can  be  suc- 
cessfully grown  in  these  soils.  The  annual  peanut  crop  is  over  1,000,000  pounds.  The 
Assessor  reports,  for  1892,  acres  sown,  wheat,  60,841;  barley,  15,594;  oats,  3,138;  corn,  819, 
hay,  17,912. 

Horticulture.— This  county  produces  successfully  all  deciduous  and  citrus  fruits, 
though  not  much  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  latter.  Indeed,  of  deciduous  fruits,  last 
year  witnessed  the  first  carload  shipments  to  Eastern  markets.  But  the  immense  fer- 
tility and  productiveness  of  these  lands,  together  with  the  perfectly  adapted  climate, 
combine  to  stimulate  increased  attention  to  fruit  culture.  Last  season  a  cannery  was 
established  at  Red  Bluff,  which  turned  out  10,000  cases  of  fruit.  Carloads  of  green  fniit 
were  shipped  to  San  Francisco,  Portland,  Chicago,  New  York,  and  St.  Louis.  Nowheic 
else  can  you  see  more  varieties  of  fruits  and  shrubs  growing  in  one  garden  than  here 
citrons,  olives,  hickory  nuts,  chestnuts,  oranges,  lemons,  Japanese  persimmons,  all  the 
range  from  apples  to  bananas.  Though  large  green  fruit  shipments  are  made,  the  croii 
is  principally  dried  and  canned.  There  are  in  the  county  7,360  acres  in  fruit  trees  and 
table  and  raisin  grapes,  of  which  4,.302  are  bearing  and  3,058  not  bearing.  The  order  of 
importance  is  as  follows:  Peaches,  3,182  acres;  prunes,  1,328;  table  and  raisin  grapes,  917; 
apricots,  574;  pears,  517;  almonds,  366;  figs,  125;  olives,  107;  apples,  86;  cherries,  59;  wal- 
nuts, 30.  This  county  will  take  a  front  rank  when  all  its  acres  are  in  bearing.  The  plant 
of  last  year  was  nearly  1,000  acres.  The  largest  wine  vineyard  in  the  world  is  at  Vina, 
containing  3,825  acres,  to  be  increased  to  5,000.  Its  storage  vaults  cover  2  acres.  Its 
storage  casks  hold  600,000  gallons.  Four  steam  grape  crushers  use  up  100  tons  a  day, 
each  turning  out  1,400  gallons  of  wine  daily  and  running  steadily  four  months.  Over 
500,000  gallons  of  wine  and  brandy  are  made  yearlj'.  The  ranch  also  has  about  20,0u0 
fruit  trees,  5,000  acres  of  wheat,  2,500  of  barley,  1,000  of  Egyptian  corn,  and  2,000  of  alfalfa, 
producing  20,000  tons  a  year.  There  are  25,000  sheep  on  the  ranch  and  some  of  the  finest 
horses  and  cattle  in  the  State.  Nowhere  can  so  many  branches  of  farming  be  seen 
carried  on  upon  so  large  a  scale.  Some  of  the  best  orchardists  of  the  State  have  located 
large  orchards  in  this  county — one  of  580,  one  of  446,  one  of  300,  and  one  of  250  acres. 
This,  if  nothing  else,  proves  the  section  to  be  first  class  for  fruit  production. 

Stock  Raising  and  Dairying.— This  county  is  a  favorite  stock  section,  on  account  of 
its  rich  lands  and  abundant  rainfall,  natural  grasses,  crops  of  feed,  and  excellent  water 
supply.  About  2,500,000  pounds  of  wool  are  shipped  annually;  some  probably  com inu 
from  adjacent  counties.  The  stock  are  mostly  driven  to  the  mountains  for  summer 
range.  According  to  the  Assessor's  report  for  1892,  there  are  5,517  horses,  13,202  cattle, 
9,993  hogs,  1,730  mules,  169,493  sheep,  583  goats,  and  2,017  dozen  poultry. 

Timber. — There  is  a  fine  belt  of  pine  timber  of  15  miles  by  40,  in  the  mountains,  where 
several  large  sawmills  are  operated.  The  annual  output  is  over  20,000,000  feet.  A  70-mile 
V  flume  carries  the  lumber  to  the  railroad  at  Red  Bluff. 

Minerals. — There  are  traces  of  mineral  deposits,  but  the  overflow  of  lava  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  county  has  covered  up  the  usual  deposits  in  the  Sierra  Nevada. 

Prices  of  Land. — Prices  of  land  in  Tehama  County  are  not  high.  The  hill  and  plain 
lands  sell  at  low  figures,  from  |5  to  $10  an  acre  in  many  cases.  The  river  bottom  and 
choice  lands  sell  at  much  higher  figures,  and  they  should  do  so  when  you  consider  their 
capacity  for  producing  income.  There  are  several  colonies  here,  where  lands  are  sold  on 
reasonable  terms  and  long  payments. 

TRINITY. 

Trinity  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Siskiyou  County,  east  by  Shasta  and 
Tehama,  south  by  Mendocino,  and  west  by  Humboldt. 

Statistics.— Area,  2,625  square  miles,  or  1,680,000  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
1,100,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  397,700  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$1,427,674.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  2.75.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  none. 
County  property,  $11,000.  County  debt,  .$48,519  81.  Number  of  schools,  18.  School 
children  between  5  and  17  years,  721.    School  money,  $14,738  46.    Population,  census  of 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEK     RESOURCES.  89 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Weaverville,  the  county  seat,  with  (KK)  popula- 
tion, has  substantial  county  buildings,  brick  store,  comfortable  dwellings,  and  the  only 
newspaper  in  the  county.  Other  towns  are  Trinity  Center,  Lewiston,  Trinity  Bar,  Junc- 
tion City,  Douglas  Citj',  and  Cinnabar.    These  are  all  mining  towns. 

Topography. — This  is  a  rough,  mountainous  county,  remote  from  railroads,  with  two 
valleys  of  importance  for  tillage— the  Ilay  Fork  in  the  west  and  Trinity  Valley  in  the 
northeast.  The  county  is  inclosed  bj'  mountains  on  three  sides— Scott  Mountains  on 
the  north,  the  Shasta  on  the  east,  and  the  Coast  Range  on  the  west.  From  all  these 
numerous  spurs  extend  into  the  county  so  that  the  most  of  its  surface  is  broken  and 
rugged.  Numerous  streams,  all  rising  in  the  county,  flow  westward  to  the  ocean.  The 
principal  stream  is  Trinity  River,  with  its  numerous  tributaries.  This  river  empties 
into  the  Klamath  in  the  northern  part  of  Humboldt  County. 

Soils. — The  soil  of  the  two  small  valleys  is  good  grain,  fruit,  and  vegetable  land,  to 
judge  from  its  products,  though  no  definite  description  of  its  character  is  at  hand. 

Climate. — The  summers  are  pleasant  and  cool,  the  winters  quite  severe  and  much 
snow  falls,  interrupting  travel,  except  on  snow  shoes,  much  the  same  as  in  Siskiyou 
County.    The  annual  rainfall  is  large,  probably  between  40  and  50  inches. 

Agriculture.— The  products  of  the  two  small  valleys  are  wheat,  barley,  oats,  corn, 
hay,  and  vegetables,  all  for  home  consumption.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892  the  fol- 
lowing acres  sown:  Wheat,  1,500;  oats,  290;  barley,  160;  corn,  320;  hay,  4,100. 

Horticulture  .—The  acreage  of  trees  and  vines  is  245 — bearing,  185;  not  bearing,  60.  The 
varieties  are,  grapes,  60  acres;  pears,  50;  apples,  42;  peaches,  35;  walnuts,  20;  small  fruits,  30. 
The  apples  are  choice,  the  other  fruits  excellent,  and  all  are  sold  for  home  consumption. 

Stock.— The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  1,080  horses,  3,868  cattle,  160  hogs,  161 
mules,  6,320  sheep,  and  420  dozen  poultry. 

Timber. — There  is  an  immense  belt  of  sugar  pine  about  20  miles  wide  on  South  Fork 
Mountain,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county.  Some  mills  are  at  work  for  local 
trade  only.    This  interest  awaits  development  when  transportation  is  cheaper. 

Mining. — For  forty  years  this  county  has  poured  forth  a  stream  of  gold.  Its  annual 
product  in  the  50's  reached  four  or  five  millions,  falling  off  to  a  million  and  a  half  in  the 
60's,  and  is  about  half  a  million  at  present.  Its  mines  are  feeling  the  impulse  of  revival 
and  new  capital,  and  doubtless  the  yield  will  be  greatly  increased  in  the  near  future. 
The  wealth  of  Trinity  County  is  in  its  gravel  mines.  There  are  about  eighty  hydraulic 
claims,  covering  near  8,000  acres  of  patented  land.  No  objection  has  been  made  to  the 
working  of  these  mines,  as  their  debris  does  not  interfere  with  river  navigation.  Quartz 
mining  is  attracting  attention. 

A  large  acreage  of  Government  land  is  open  for  settlement  in  this  county. 

TULARE. 

Tulare  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Fresno  County,  east  by  Inyo,  south  by 
Kern,  and  west  bj'  Fresno  and  Monterey. 

Statistics. — Area,  6,406  square  miles,  or  4,099,840  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
1,500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  1,645,543  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$25,201,015.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.40.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  143.30; 
assessed  at  $1,442,832.  County  propertj',  $88,750.  County  debt,  $41,500.  Number  of  schools, 
162.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  7,109.  School  money,  $149,641  43.  Popula- 
tion, census  of  1890,  24,875. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Visalia,  the  county  seat,  population  3,500,  has 
excellent  public  buildings,  a  $.'50,000  school  house,  a  daily  and  two  weekly  newspapers, 
seven  churches,  three  banks,  two  railroads,  the  United  States  Land  Office  of  the  district, 
good  hotels,  substantial  business  blocks,  and  elegant  residences. 

The  other  leading  towns  are  Tulare  City,  on  the  main  line,  population  3,000,  with  two 
banks,  daily  newspaper,  fine  blocks,  and  large  warehouses.  Ilanford,  on  the  branch 
railroad,  with  bank,  newspaper,  good  hotels,  and  fine  opera  house  in  course  of  con- 
struction. Porterville  is  on  the  railroad  from  Fresno  to  Poso,  near  the  foothill  region, 
and  in  the  orange  belt,  and  has  a  bank,  two  newspapers,  mills,  good  hotels,  and  business 
buildings.  Traver,  Goshen,  Armona,  Lemoore,  and  Dinuba,  besides  many  small  place.s, 
are  important  shipping  points. 


90  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER     RESOURCES. 

Topography.— The  county  extends  from  the  Coast  Range  on  the  west  across  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley  to  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  on  the  east,  the  highest  peak  ol 
which  is  Mount  Whitney,  15,046  feet  altitude,  the  loftiest  in  the  United  States.  The 
western  slope  of  the  Sierra  is  covered  with  heavy  forests,  including  the  largest  speci- 
mens, and  in  great  numbers,  of  the  Big  Trees  {Sequoia  gigantea).  These  are  included 
in  the  Government  reservation  of  Sequoia  National  Park.  The  valley  portion  of  the 
county  comprises  about  1,136,000  acres  of  first-class  land;  the  slopes  of  the  mountains 
about  2,454,000  acres,  of  which  one  third  may  be  cultivated. 

Soils.— The  soil  of  the  valley  is  mostly  a  sandy  loam,  without  sod,  and  unmixed  with 
gravel;  that  of  the  lower  Sierra  foothills  and  of  the  mountain  valleys  is  a  dark,  rich 
loam.  In  all  parts  of  the  county  the  soil  is  very  deep.  There  are  large  tracts  of  white 
ash  land  well  adapted  for  raisin  grapes.  The  richest  soil  is  that  of  the  Kaweah  delta, 
rich  in  humus,  capable  of  producing  anything  that  grows. 

Climate. — The  summer  climate  is  dry  and  warm,  with  cool  nights;  the  winter  or 
rainy  season  seldom  reaches  32°.  Little  frost  is  known.  Near  the  Sierra  foothills  is  a 
specially  warm  belt,  which,  with  a  most  favorable  soil  and  abundant  water  for  irriga- 
tion, furnishes  one  of  the  best  orange  and  lemon  districts  in  the  State.  The  extreme 
temperatures  for  Tulare  City  are,  summer  111°,  winter  81°;  for  Lemoore,  summer  110°, 
winter  25°.  The  average  annual  rainfall  is,  for  Lemoore,  6.31  inches;  for  Tulare  City, 
8.22  inches. 

Irrigation.— Abundant  water  is  brought  from  the  snow-clad  Sierra  by  perennial  rivers 
and  streams,  which  flow  into  and  through  the  valley,  and  which  are  extensively  utilized 
by  a  large  system  of  canals  for  irrigation  purposes.  The  maximum  discharge  of  these 
streams  during  the  rainy  season  and  "  snow  rise  "  is  26,000  cubic  feet  per  second,  suflS- 
cient,  even  with  wasteful  use,  to  irrigate  4,000,000  acres.  The  average  discharge  for  the 
year  is  4,000  cubic  feet  a  second,  and  the  discharge  during  the  irrigating  season  varies 
from  6,000  to  10,000  feet  a  second,  sufficient,  if  properly  distributed,  to  irrigate  all  the 
cultivable  lands  of  the  county.  Reservoirs,  for  which  the  mountain  regions  afford  many 
fine  sites,  would  greatly  increase  the  available  supply.  The  water  supply  of  the  Coast 
Range  is  of  value  to  only  a  few  small  valleys.  There  are  600  miles  of  large  main  canals  in 
the  county,  and  800  miles  of  laterals.  There  is  also  a  large  number  of  artesian  wells  in 
the  western  half  of  the  valley,  supplying  abundant  water  to  a  large  area;  one  well  flow- 
ing 35,000,000  gallons  a  day.  The  cost  of  irrigation  for  grain  and  alfalfa  is  about  $1  an 
acre  for  the  first  year,  and  about  50  cents  an  acre  thereafter.  For  trees  and  vines  very- 
little  is  used  after  the  second  year. 

Agriculture. — Tulare  claims  to  be  the  banner  wheat  county  of  California,  with  450,000 
acres  in  wheat,  barley,  and  corn.  Both  Egyptian  and  Indian  corn  are  grown  as  a  second 
crop  the  same  year,  after  wheat  and  barley  are  harvested.  The  most  valuable  product 
for  hay  or  pasturage  is  alfalfa,  which  in  this  county  under  irrigation  yields  from  three 
to  six  crops  annually  and  which  may  be  used  for  pasturage  ten  months  out  of  the 
twelve.  There  were  probably  100,000  tons  of  wheat  for  export  in  1892.  No  figures  of  the 
alfalfa  yield  are  at  hand,  but  the  amount  is  enormous.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892, 
area  sown  to  wheat,  358,700  acres;  oats,  400;  barley,  75,000;  corn,  2,000;  hay,  25,000. 
Vegetables  of  all  kinds,  without  limit,  can  be  raised  on  the  rich  soils  of  this  county. 

Horticulture. — Fruit  raising  is  becoming  the  most  important  business  of  Tulare,  for 
success  in  which  its  rich  soils,  ample  irrigation  facilities,  level  lands,  and  unparalleled 
climate  amply  qualify  it.  The  principal  fruit  sections  are  the  Kaweah  delta— the 
region  about  Visalia  and  eastward  to  the  foothills— around  Tulare  City,  the  Lucerne 
district  around  Ilanford,  Lemoore  and  Grangeville,  around  Traver,  and  the  foothill 
citrus  belt,  including  Porterville,  Piano,  Orisi,  and  Dinuba.  All  of  the  above  named 
districts  are  especially  adapted  to  the  stone  fruits,  the  prune  leading,  followed  bj'  the 
peach,  apricot,  pear,  and  olive.  A  three-year-old  peach  tree  yields  175  pounds,  and  in  full 
bearing  250  pounds,  realizing  .$100  an  acre  profit.  Apricots  yield  about  the  same  profit, 
but  do  not  bear  so  regularly.  The  earlier  varieties  of  plums  return  a  greater  profit  than 
peaches.  The  French  prune  of  California  yields,  however,  the  best  results  of  all.  In 
the  Kaweah  delta  its  product  is  marvelous;  six-year-old  trees  sometimes  bear  1,000 
pounds.  A  sworn  statement  of  witnesses  to  the  weighing  of  the  crop  from  one  six-year- 
old  tree— one  being  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture,  another  of  the  State 
Board  of  Trade— gives  1,102  pounds.    The  product  of  this  orchard  sold,  picked,  for  2}4 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES.  91 

cents  a  pound.  This  orchard  has  seventy  trees  to  the  acre.  Other  prune  land  just  a? 
good  is  to  be  found  in  other  districts  of  the  county.  The  climate  of  Tulare  is  unequaled 
for  drying  all  kinds  of  fruits.  A  large  area  of  the  county  is  devoted  to  raisin  grajjcs. 
The  most  profitable  vineyards  are  in  the  Lucerne  district,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  north  of  Tulare  Lake.  The  foothill  coves  and  valleys  around  rortcrvillo  and 
vicinity  present  a  cultivable  area  of  500  square  miles,  and  arc  especially  adapted  to 
the  production  of  oranges,  lemons,  limes,  and  olives.  The  oranges  of  this  locality  have 
taken  many  prizes  in  the  citrus  fairs.  The  lemons  are  admitted  to  be  as  line  as  grown 
in  the  State.  The  already  large  acreage  of  citrus  fruits  is  being  rapidly  added  to,  and 
doubtless  in  a  few  years  citrus  fruits  will  rank  among  the  most  valuable  products  of 
the  county.  The  acreage  in  fruit  is  22,076— bearing,  15,442;  not  bearing,  (i.fVM.  Of  this, 
prunes  have  5,121  acres;  peaches,  3,800;  raisin  grapes,  10,204;  apricots,  724;  pears,  642; 
oranges,  571;  lemons,  63;  olives,  320;  figs,  182;  nectarines,  128;   plums,  89;  apples,  147. 

Stock  Raising.— Stock  raising  is  one  of  the  most  important  and  remunerative  indus- 
tries of  the  county.  On  all  the  ranches  are  to  be  found  the  finest  strains  of  roadsters 
and  draft  horses,  beef  and  dairy  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine.  Tulare  seems  to  be  the 
banner  county  for  hogs,  and  its  wool  clip  is  very  large.  Alfalfa  is  the  secret  of  all  this. 
The  Assessor  reports  for  1892:  Horses,  22,501;  cattle,  25,868;  hogs,  15,346;  mules,  1,488; 
sheep,  190,406;  goats,  1,759;  poultry,  1,478  dozen. 

Timber. — The  vast  forests  of  the  Sierra,  of  sugar  and  yellow  pine,  spruce,  fir,  and 
cedar  are  almost  untouched.  There  are  numerous  large  saw  mills  in  the  mountains, 
and  the  product  is  carried  by  flumes  to  the  railroad,  but  the  field  is  virtually  une.x- 
ploited. 

Minerals.— Tliere  are  a  few  quartz  claims,  mostly  in  the  vicinity  of  White  River, 
where  a  few  small  mills  find  steady  employment.  The  great  altitude  and  the  inaccessi- 
ble nature  of  the  claims  are  the  principal  drawbacks.  Slate,  marble,  coal,  plumbago, 
gold,  silver,  iron,  copper,  lead,  and  antimony  are  known  to  exist  in  large  deposits.  This 
field  will  be  reached  some  day,  and  richly  repay  the  development. 

Transportation. — The  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  lias  three  lines  in  the  county — the 
main  line  north  and  south,  a  branch  from  Fresno  on  the  north,  via  Porterville,  to  Poso 
on  the  south,  and  a  branch  from  Goshen  through  Hanford  to  Huron  and  Alcalde  in  the 
Coast  Range.  Two  small  branches  run  from  Goshen  and  from  Tulare  City  to  Visalia. 
Strong  hopes  of  a  canal  to  reach  the  San  Joaquin  River  are  entertained,  to  give  cheap 
water  transportation  to  San  Francisco. 

Prices  of  Land.— In  the  vicinity  of  the  leading  towns  unimproved  fruit  lands  can 
be  bought  for  |50  to  .15150  an  acre,  with  ample  irrigation  supply;  at  a  greater  distance 
from  towns,  from  .$25  to  $50  an  acre.  Grain  lands  are  variously  held  at  from  $25  to  $100, 
according  to  fertility  and  location.  Pasture  lands  in  the  mountains  range  from  $5  to 
$20  an  acre. 

TUOLUMNE. 

Tuolumne  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Alpine  and  Calaveras  Counties,  east  by 
Mono,  south  by  Mariposa,  and  west  by  Stanislaus  and  Calaveras. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,953  square  miles,  or  1,349,920  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
700,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  336,830  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$3,144,990.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.70.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  none. 
County  property,  $38,000.  County  debt,  none.  Number  of  schools,  40.  School  children 
between  5  and  17  years,  1,474.  School  money,  $27,493  37.  Population,  census  of  1890, 
6,028. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns.— Sonora,  the  county  seat,  population  1,441,  has 
five  churches,  good  schools,  three  newspapers,  electric  light  plant  run  by  water  power, 
planing  mill,  two  flour  mills,  and  a  fruit  cannery.  Columbia  has  a  planing  mill,  flour 
mills,  box  factorj',  fruit  drier,  three  churches,  and  good  schools.  The  Columbia  marble 
works  were  reopened  last  year.  Other  towns  are  Chinese  Camp  and  Big  Oak  Flat. 
These  towns  are  remote  from  railroad  connections;  all  intercourse  with  the  outside  world 
is  by  team  and  staging,  consequently  their  growth  is  slow,  being  due  to  local  demands 
only  and  to  the  mines. 

Topography.— The  county  extends  from  the  lower  foothills  in  the  west  to  an  altitude 
of  14,000  feet  at  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  on  the  east.    The  famous  Hetchy  Hetchy 


92  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

Vallej',  a  rival  of  Yosemite,  is  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  The  western  slopes 
are  covered  with  timber.  The  county  is  watered  by  the  three  branches  of  the  Stanislaus 
River  in  the  north,  and  by  the  Tuolumne  River,  with  its  branches,  through  the  south- 
erly part,  furnishing  magnificent  water  power.  There  are  many  beautiful  lakes  in  the 
mountains.  The  western  foothills  and  the  narrow  valleys  along  the  streams  furnish  the 
only  tillable  soil,  which  is  very  rich  and  productive. 

Climate.— In  the  lower  foothills,  about  Sonora,  the  temperature  reaches  about  95°  in 
July  and  August,  and  occasionally  100°.  The  winters  are  cool,  with  occasional  frosty 
nights  and  light  falls  of  snow.    In  the  high  mountains  an  alpine  climate  prevails. 

Irrigation. — The  water  ditches  and  flume  amount  to  137  miles,  built  originally  and 
mainly  for  mining  purposes,  but  useful  for  irrigation. 

Agriculture.— Grains  are  raised  only  for  the  local  markets,  but  the  yield  per  acre  is 
heavy.  All  kinds  of  vegetables  grow  profusely,  and  there  is  a  plentiful  supply  for  home 
use.  Tomatoes,  corn,  potatoes,  onions,  lettuce,  radishes,  beets,  turnips,  peas,  beans,  cab- 
bage, etc.,  are  found  in  all  gardens  in  the  favored  spots.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892: 
Wheat,  3,900  acres;  oats,  600;  barley,  2,000;  hay,  1,200.  Alfalfa  grows  well  in  the  narrow 
valleys  along  streams. 

Horticulture. — There  are  655  acres  of  fruit  trees  and  vines  in  the  county— 519  bearing 
and  136  not  bearing— as  follows:  apples,  268  acres;  peaches,  97;  pears,  68;  raisin  and  table 
grapes,  75;  cherries,  28;  apricots,  27;  figs,  18;  walnuts,  13;  almorids,  8;  plums,  5;  oranges, 
5;  lemons,  2.  The  citrus  fruits  are  successfully  grown  in  sheltered  sections.  Mountain 
apples  are  of  first  quality,  and  bring  $20  a  ton.  Railroad  facilities  would  vastly  extend 
the  growth  of  fruits. 

Stock  Raising.— Stock  is  raised  to  some  extent  in  this  county.  The  feed  ranges  are 
excellent,  and  have  pure  water  and  abundant  shade.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892: 
Horses,  2,404;  cattle,  8,125;  hogs,  1,000;  mules,  110;  sheep,  7,300;  goats,  100;  poultry,  1,000 
dozen. 

Timber. — The  mountains  have  a  belt  from  north  to  south  of  the  most  magnificent 
sugar  pine  in  the  State,  which  will  cut  50,000  feet  to  the  acre,  worth  in  San  Francisco  $60 
a  thousand.  Some  of  these  trees  will  go  16  feet  in  diameter,  and  100  feet  to  the  first 
limb.  This  timber  has  scarcely  been  touched.  Immense  quantities  of  yellow  pine,  fir, 
spruce,  and  cedar  are  intermixed  with  this.  These  lands  can  be  bought  for  $15  an  acre. 
There  are  over  300  giant  sequoias  in  the  South  Grove,  near  the  Calaveras  line. 

Mining.— Gold  mining  is  reviving,  and  much  foreign  capital  is  now  being  invested, 
new  mines  prospected,  and  old  mines  reopened.  Much  money  has  been  spent  the  past 
year,  and  no  section  of  California  mines  offers  better  inducements  for  investment.  The 
principal  mining  sections  are  Columbia,  Sonora,  Big  Oak  Flat,  and  Chinese  Camp. 

Prices  of  Land. — Land  is  cheap  in  this  county,  and  much  Government  land  can  be 
obtained. 

VENTURA. 

Ventura  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Kern  and  San  Luis  Obispo  Counties, 
east  by  Los  Angeles,  west  by  Santa  Barbara,  and  south  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,682  square  miles,  or  1,076,480  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
500,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  527,054  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$8,253,341.  Rate  of  taxation.  State  and  county,  1.65.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  54.50; 
assessed  at  $509,619.  County  property,  $105,000.  County  debt,  $11,000.  Number  of 
schools,  64.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  3,148.  School  money,  $66,831  34. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  10,066. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — San  Buenaventura,  the  county  seat,  83  miles 
from  Los  Angeles,  population  (1890)  2,320,  has  increased,  in  common  with  other  towns, 
about  25  per  cent  since  that  date.  Its  location  is  on  gently  sloping  land,  by  the  ocean, 
with  low  hills  at  the  rear,  and  sheltered  from  rough  winds  by  mountains  in  the  distance. 
It  is  provided  with  elegant  county  buildings,  new  banks,  electric  lights,  electric  street 
ear  lines,  a  large  ice  factory,  elegant  churches  and  schools,  two  first-class  hotels,  and 
substantial  business  blocks.  A  company  is  incorporated  to  run  an  electric  railway  to 
the  famous  Ojai  Valley,  a  distance  of  12  miles,  and  part  of  the  track  is  already  laid. 
There  is  considerable  manufacturing,  and  a  large  amount  of  produce  is  shipped  by 
coast  steamers.    A  beautiful  avenue  is  laid  out  along  the  banks  of  the  Ventura  River. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCKS.  VS 

Santa  Paula,  a  rapidly  growing  town,  population  (1890)  1,047,  has  a  bank,  good  hotel 
and  business  buildings,  newspaper,  planing  and  flour  mills,  and  two  oil  refineries,  which 
pipe  the  oil  from  the  wells  and  to  the  ocean  at  San  Buenaventura  and  at  Hueneine, 
where  it  is  loaded  in  tank  ships  and  taken  to  San  Francisco.  The  output  of  oil  is  about 
1,000  barrels  a  day.  New  wells  and  new  territory  have  been  developed,  and  the  outlook 
is  veiy  flattering.  This  industry  and  the  extreme  productiveness  of  the  grain  and  fruit 
farms  have  given  a  new  impulse  to  all  these  places. 

Hueneme,  population  (1890)  789,  is  one  of  the  most  important  shipping  places  on  the 
southern  coast,  especially  of  grain  and  beans.  Saticoy,  New  Jerusalem,  ^lontalvo, 
Nordhoff,  Fillinore,  Camulos,  and  other  places  are  alike  progressive  and  prosperous. 

Topograpliy. — About  one  half  of  this  county  is  arable  land  and  very  fertile,  needing 
irrigation  in  manj'  places  to  insure  productiveness.  The  mountains  are  mostly  low 
and  timbered,  except  in  the  north,  where  the  range  running  east  and  west  rises  to  over 
6,000  feet.  The  valleys  are  fertile,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  Santa  Clara;  Camulos, 
the  alleged  home  of  the  "  Ramona  "  of  Helen  Hunt  Jackson;  Ojai,  with  its  well-timbered 
basin  of  productive  soil,  heavy  in  wheat  and  favorable  for  orange  culture;  Conejo,  on 
the  northern  slope  of  Guadalasca  iNIountains,  well  watered  and  productive  of  grain; 
Simi,  with  splendid  oak  forests  and  grazing  lands;  Santa  Ana,  with  cultivated  farms  and 
orchards;  Las  Posas,  with  immense  wheat  fields  and  semi-tropic  fruits;  Sesj)e,  and  San 
Buenaventura.  The  Santa  Clara  River  traverses  the  county  from  northeast  to  south- 
west, with  its  tributaries,  the  Santa  Paula,  Sespe,  and  Piru.  The  Ventura  rises  in  the 
San  Rafael  range  and  flows  due  south  to  the  sea. 

Soils. — All  these  vallej's  possess  a  rich,  inexhaustible  loam  from  10  to  150  feet  deep, 
varying  in  qualitj'  somewhat,  but  all  alike  fertile. 

Climate.— On  the  coast  the  temperature  seldom  goes  below  34°,  nor  rises  above  83°. 
In  the  interior  valleys  it  is  hotter  in  summer  and  colder  in  winter.  The  climate  in 
general  is  extremely  delightful.  Snow  comes  on  the  high  mountains,  but  never  in  the 
valleys.    The  average  rainfall  is  about  the  same  as  Santa  Barbara  County,  17  inches. 

Irrigation. — The  county  has  enough  natural  water  to  supply  all  its  lands.  There  are 
in  use  now  about  25  miles  of  ditch  for  irrigation.  By  irrigation  the  best  results  in  fruits 
and  vegetables  can  be  secured.  Little  irrigation  is  practiced,  however,  yet  products  of 
every  description  are  raised  in  abundance. 

Agriculture. — Wheat  and  barley  are  largely  produced.  More  beans  are  raised  than 
in  all  other  sections  of  California.  This  crop  was  over  $1,000,000  last  year.  The  annual 
product  of  lima  beans  is  estimated  at  30,000  tons.  There  is  one  bean  field  of  over  2,000 
acres.  These  bean  crops  are  produced  without  irrigation.  Barley  is  estimated  at  700,000 
centals.    There  are  no  Assessor's  returns  for  1892  on  acreage  sown. 

Horticulture.— In  fruit  raising  this  county  stands  high  in  capacity,  and  if  behind  in 
production,  it  is  due  to  isolation  from  market,  rather  than  to  any  indifference  among 
its  people.  All  deciduous  and  sub-tropical  fruits,  nuts,  and  olives  are  produced  in 
abundance.  Some  of  the  finest  lemons  in  the  State  are  marketed  from  this  county,  at 
Santa  Paula  and  Sespe.  The  English  walnut  grows  to  perfection  in  this  county.  It  is 
also  the  natural  home  of  the  apricot  and  the  prune.  Oranges  are  as  bright,  sweet,  and 
as  richly  colored  as  those  of  Riverside.  Figs  are  produced  in  profusion.  :Many  limes 
are  successfully  grown— almost  a  tropical  product.  There  is  one  of  the  finest  lemon 
orchards  in  the  State  at  Santa  Paula,  which  returns  large  profits  to  its  owner.  There 
are  11,155  acres  of  fruit  trees  and  vines  in  the  county— 3,397  bearing  and  7,758  not  bear- 
ing, which  latter  item  shows  the  recent  growth  of  the  fruit  industry.  Walnuts  lead, 
with  6,305  acres,  of  which  5,.308  are  not  in  bearing.  Next  in  order  come  apricots,  prunes, 
peaches,  oranges,  lemons,  apples,  nectarines,  pears,  table  and  raisin  grapes,  and  almonds. 
There  are  45,000  orange  trees,  one  half  in  bearing. 

Stock  Raising.— The  Assessor's  report  for  1892  shows  8,335  horses,  14,179  cattle,  3,860 
hogs,  286  mules,  35,354  sheep,  106  goats,  and  1,921  dozen  poultry. 

Honey.— There  are  over  10,000  hives  in  the  county.  Honey  is  collected  every  month 
in  the  year.  The  annual  product  is  not  far  from  3,000,000  pounds.  The  bees  collect 
honey,  all  the  year,  from  the  abundant  blossoms  of  alfiUeria,  shrubs,  and  wild  fiowers 
in  the  mountains  and  foothill  valleys. 

Minerals.— Both  placer  and  quartz  gold  deposits  exist  in  the  Piru  district  Asphal- 
tum,  bituminous  rock,  limestone,   marble,  and  brownstone  are  found.    Much  of  the 


94  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

latter  is  shipped  abroad,  and  is  used  largely  in  various  cities.  There  are  fifty  producing 
oil  wells  in  Ventura,  some  of  them  flowing.  This  county  is  the  leading  petroleum 
district  of  the  State.  Last  year's  product  is  not  reported;  that  of  1891  was  270,133 
barrels.  The  present  output  is  about  1,200  barrels  a  day.  The  oils  are  both  lubricating 
and  illuminating. 

Places  of  Resort. — The  entire  coast  region  is  delightful  in  climate,  as  well  as  many 
of  the  interior  valleys.  Nordhoff  is  a  famous  resort  for  invalids,  in  the  charming  Ojai 
Valley.  "  The  Avenue  "  is  a  beautiful  drive  lined  with  shade  trees,  extending  up  the 
valley  of  the  Ventura.  The  Ojai  Valley  will  soon  have  an  electric  road  running  12 
miles  out  from  San  Buenaventura. 

Prices  of  Land.— Prices  of  land  in  this  county  are  not  reported  to  us,  but  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  they  are  reasonably  low,  as  much  remains  to  be  improved,  and  the 
county  should  be  a  most  favorable  place  for  investment,  pending  the  completion  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  line  south  to  Santa  Barbara  in  the  next  eighteen  months,  supplying 
the  last  link  in  the  coast  route  between  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles. 

YOLO. 

Yolo  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Colusa  County,  east  by  Sutter  and  Sacra- 
mento, south  by  Solano,  and  west  by  Lake  and  Napa. 

Statistics.— Area,  1,017  square  miles,  or  650,880  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
about  15,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  524,277  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  prop- 
erty, .121,086,490.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.10.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad, 
87.80;  assessed  at  $1,005,921.  County  property,  $78,000.  County  debt,  $51,355  77.  Number 
of  schools,  78.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  3,478.  School  money,  $89,315  09. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  12,684. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Woodland,  the  county  seat,  with  a  population 
of  4,000,  is  reputed  one  of  the  wealthiest  cities  for  its  population  in  the  State.  Its  private 
residences  are  elegant  and  costly,  and  its  hotels  first  class.  No  less  than  fifty  residences 
have  been  built  during  the  past  year.  Its  streets  are  wide,  clean,  and  lined  with 
ornamental  trees.  Some  of  them  are  paved  with  bituminous  rock.  The  city  has  floated 
$135,000  of  bonds  for  sewerage,  a  City  Hall,  and  waterworks  extension,  and  these 
improvements  are  now  in  course  of  construction,  as  well  as  an  incandescent  light  system. 
The  city  is  now  well  lighted  with  gas  and  electricity,  and  has  efficient  street  car  service, 
fire  department,  telephone,  express,  and  telegraph  service.  It  is  connected  by  rail  with 
Marysville,  Sacramento,  and  San  Francisco,  California,  and  Portland,  Oregon,  and  will 
soon  have  rail  service  up  the  famous  Capay  Valley.  Its  opera  house  is  one  of  the  best 
in  Northern  California,  and  its  public  and  business  buildings  are  costly  and  elegant. 
There  are  here  a  free  library,  improved  grounds  and  track  of  District  Fair  Association, 
three  substantial  banks,  efficient  city  government,  low  taxes  and  low  water  rates,  pure 
water,  salubrious  climate,  excellent  sanitary  conditions,  and  a  very  low  rate  of  mortality. 
It  has  two  first-class  daily  newspapers  and  one  weekly.  As  a  city  with  all  of  these 
advantages,  besides  being  liberally  provided  with  first-class  schools,  two  colleges, 
elegant  houses  of  worship,  and  public  society  buildings,  it  presents  unusual  attractions 
to  those  who  are  seeking  new  homes. 

Winters,  on  Putah  Creek,  in  the  heart  of  a  splendid  fruit  section,  is  a  thriving  town 
with  a  bank,  newspaper,  hotels,  and  fine  public  and  business  buildings.   , 

Davisville,  on  the  main  line  of  the  California  Pacific,  in  the  center  of  a  large  grain 
and  fruit  district,  shows  all  evidences  of  thrift,  enterprise,  and  prosperity.  Other  im- 
portant towns  are  Dunnigans,  Blacks,  and  Knight's  Landing,  in  the  grain  regions  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  county;  Clarksburg,  in  the  rich  garden  region  of  the  Sacramento 
River,  and  Rumsey,  Capay,  Madison,  Surrey,  Guinda,  and  Esparto  in  Capay  Valley. 

Topography.— Yolo  County  is  washed  on  the  eastern  boundary  by  the  Sacramento 
River;  on  the  west  sheltered  by  the  Coast  Range.  Two  important  streams,  Putah  Creek 
on  the  south,  and  Cache  Creek  on  the  north,  cross  it  from  west  to  east,  till  lost  in  the 
marshes  bordering  the  Sacramento  River.  They  both  have  many  feeders.  The  latter 
rises  in  Clear  Lake,  in  Lake  County,  and  flows  through  the  fertile  Capay  Valley.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  county  is  level,  except  in  the  western  part,  where  rise  the  foothills 
of  the  Coast  Range,  which  are  intersected  by  canons  and  valleys.    The  tule  lands  along 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES.  95 

the  Sacramento  contain  about  40,000  acres.  There  is  but  little  waste  land  in  the  county. 
Oapay  Valley  is  about  25  miles  long  and  4  miles  wide  on  an  average.  It  is  traversed  by 
the  Vaca  Valley  and  Clear  Lake  Railroad,  which  will  eventually  be  extended  into  Lake 
County.  This  valley  is  one  of  the  finest  early  fruit  sections  in  the  State,  and  especially 
adapted  to  "intensified  farming."  Its  scenery  is  of  fascinating  beauty,  exciting  the 
admiration  of  every  lover  of  nature. 

Soils.— In  the  possession  of  deep  alluvial  soil  of  the  highest  fertility  Yolo  ranks 
among  the  choice  places  of  California.  This  is  alike  true  of  Capay  Valley,  Woodland, 
Winters,  and  the  Sacramento  region.    Closer  to  the  western  foothills  it  is  more  gravelly. 

Climate.— During  July  and  August  the  mercury  frequently  exceeds  100°.  Frosts 
sometimes  occur  in  the  early  winter  months,  but  rarely  severe.  In  Capay  Valley  the 
climate  is  mild  and  pleasant  all  fall,  winter,  and  spring.  While  the  summer  shows 
many  warm  days,  the  nights  are  cool  and  remarkably  free  from  dew.  The  air  is  pure, 
clear,  light,  and  dry,  and  the  climate  is  one  of  the  best  for  those  having  weak  lungs. 
The  average  annual  rainfall  for  Woodland  is  17.25  inches. 

Irrigation. — Clear  Lake,  for  which  Cache  Creek  is  the  outlet,  has  a  catchment  area  of 
420  square  miles,  and  the  total  watershed  of  the  creek  is  1,024  square  miles.  Its  eleva- 
tion is  1,300  feet  above  sea-level.  In  flood  stages  the  discharge  of  water  is  over  30,000 
cubic  feet  per  second.  The  minimum  discharge  in  October  is  40  cubic  feet  per  second. 
With  a  proper  system  of  restraining  works,  reservoirs,  and  canals,  this  stream  could 
furnish  enough  water  to  irrigate  all  the  arable  lands  of  the  county.  The  Moore  ditch 
irrigates  about  15,000  acres,  mainly  devoted  to  alfalfa.  There  are  about  90  miles  of  irri- 
gating ditch  in  the  county.  It  is  estimated  that  Clear  Lake  would  furnish  50,000  horse- 
power.   The  question  of  controlling  its  waters,  under  the  Wright  Act,  is  being  agitated. 

Agriculture. — Yolo  is  a  large  wheat  producer,  and  doubtless  will  long  continue  to  be 
so.  The  chief  wheat  districts  are  in  the  northern  and  eastern  portions,  for  which  Dunni- 
gans  and  Blacks  are  the  center.  Woodland  and  Davisville  also  handle  immense  quan- 
tities of  grain.  Alfalfa  is  a  large  crop  along  the  lowlands,  paralleling  the  Sacramento, 
where  immense  growth  is  made,  no  irrigation  being  required  on  these  moist  lands. 
Clarksburg  ships  large  quantities  of  vegetables  and  melons  by  steamer  to  San  Francisco. 
The  country  adjacent  is  as  rich  as  the  delta  of  the  Nile.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892, 
198,043  acres  in  wheat,  17,870  in  barley,  and  12,200  in  hay. 

Horticulture.— While  Y'olo  County  has  not  such  extensive  plantings  as  some  other 
counties,  she  is  adapted  by  soil,  climate,  and  location  to  the  successful  production  of  a 
large  range  of  varieties  of  fruits,  and  is  justly  entitled  to  become  one  of  the  leading 
fruit  sections  of  the  State.  There  are  12,817  acres  of  trees  and  table  and  raisin  grapes, 
of  which  10,000  are  bearing  and  2,817  not  bearing.  The  varieties  range  as  follows:  Raisin 
grapes,  6,350  acres;  table  grapes,  1,800;  prunes,  1,522;  peaches,  1,040;  apricots,  821;  pears, 
621;  almonds,  499;  figs,  68;  cherries  and  apples,  each,  25;  olives,  23;  plums,  15;  oranges,  5. 
The  principal  fruit  districts  are  Tutah  Creek,  from  Winters  up  to  and  through  the  Capay 
Valley,  and  all  the  country  bordering  the  Sacramento  from  Davisville  north  through 
Woodland  to  the  northern  limits  of  the  county.  The  main  product  is  raisins,  in  which 
industry  the  county  was  the  pioneer  in  California.  The  largest  vineyard  under  one 
ownership  is  1,200  acres.  In  Capay  Valley  extensive  plantings  have  been  made  in  the 
past  year  or  so.  Prunes  do  as  well  as  anywhere  in  the  State,  peaches  thrive,  and  the 
Bartlett  pear  is  of  excellent  quality  and  large  yield.  When  Capay  Valley  comes  into 
full  bearing,  the  superiority  of  its  soil  and  location  for  fruit  culture  will  be  fully  acknowl- 
edged. The  fruit  of  the  county  is  marketed  in  Sacramento  and  Marysville  canneries,  or 
shipped  green  or  dried  to  the  East  and  to  San  Francisco.  We  have  no  figures  at  hand 
for  the  shipments  of  1892,  but  the  total  was  very  large.  There  are  also  2,400  acres  of 
wine  grapes  in  the  county. 

Stock  Raising.— There  is  a  large  amount  of  stock  kept  in  the  reclaimed  tule  lands 
along  the  Sacramento  River,  where  feed  is  abundant  the  year  round.  Dairying  is  exten- 
sively carried  on,  and  this  district  supplies  thousands  of  gallons  of  milk  daily  to  the 
city  of  Sacramento,  as  well  as  beef,  mutton,  and  pork.  The  entire  tule  region,  protected 
by  immense  levees  and  abounding  in  green  feed,  is  a  favorite  pasturing  ground  for  large 
quantities  of  stock,  which  are  often  driven  there  from  other  localities.  The  Assessor's 
report  for  1892  shows:  Horses,  8,765;  cattle,  13,466;  hogs,  7,230;  mules,  3,719;  sheep,  44,915; 
poultry,  2,810  dozen. 


yb  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

Prices  of  Land. — Prices  of  land  in  Yolo  County  may  seem  high,  but  they  are  not 
when  the  immense  productiveness  of  the  soil  is  considered,  and  the  exceptional  facilities 
for  marketing  products.  The  successful  colonies  established  in  Capay  Valley  during 
the  past  two  years  demonstrate  the  advantage  of  settling  in  a  community  with  like  pur- 
poses and  aims,  seeking  unitedly  improvement  and  development  in  one  direction. 
Lands  can  be  obtained  on  easy  terms,  even  with  no  payment  down,  and  with  low  rates 
of  interest,  provided  certain  just  conditions  of  planting  and  improvement  are  complied 
with.  Under  such  a  system  the  owner  can,  if  industrious  and  saving,  pay  for  his  land 
out  of  its  products  within  a  few  years.  California  affords  no  more  attractive  field  for 
fruit  culture  than  Yolo  County  offers  to  the  industrious  colonist. 

YUBA. 

Yuba  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Butte  County,  east  by  Nevada  and  Sierra, 
south  by  Placer,  and  west  by  Sutter. 

Statistics. — Area,  617  square  miles,  or  394,880  acres.  Unentered  Government  land, 
30,000  acres.  Lands  assessed,  322,942  acres.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  property, 
$7,194,308.  Rate  of  taxation,  State  and  county,  1.80.  Number  of  miles  of  railroad,  28.34: 
assessed  at  $339,793.  County  property,  $58,000.  County  debt,  $81,600.  Number  of 
schools,  52.  School  children  between  5  and  17  years,  2,144.  School  money,  $43,359  58. 
Population,  census  of  1890,  9,550. 

County  Seat  and  Principal  Towns. — Marysville,  the  county  seat,  population  4,000, 
is  located  on  the  Oregon  and  California  Railroad,  at  the  junction  of  Yuba  and  Feather 
Rivers.  It  is  a  terminal  railroad  shipping  point  to  and  from  the  East,  at  the  same  rates 
with  Stockton,  Sacramento,  San  Jos6,  and  San  Francisco.  It  has  water  transportation 
by  river  to  Sacramento  and  San  Francisco.  Many  factories  and  wholesale  houses  are 
located  here,  notably  woolen  mills,  flour  mills,  foundries,  iron  pipe  and  tank  factories, 
agricultural  implement  works,  and  extensive  fruit  canneries,  and  a  large  trade  is  carried 
on  with  many  interior  points.  It  has  two  banks,  two  newspapers,  college,  high  school, 
fine  public  buildings,  and  an  energetic  and  enterprising  population. 

Wheatland  has  a  bank,  flour  mills,  two  newspapers,  fine  schools  and  churches,  and 
does  a  thriving  business  as  the  center  of  a  highly  fertile  section.  Other  important 
towns  are  Smartsville,  Camptonville,  Brownsville,  Strawberry  Valley,  etc. 

Topography. — The  southwestern  portion  is  valley  land  containing  about  100,000  acres; 
the  central  foothill  section  has  136,000  acres,  while  there  are  200,000  acres  of  mountain 
land.    The  county  is  abundantly  watered  by  the  Bear,  Yuba,  and  Feather  Rivers. 

Soils. — The  valley  lands  are  deep,  rich  alluvial  soil,  entirely  free  from  rocks  and 
gravel.  While  these  are  mainly  devoted  to  grain,  alfalfa,  and  vegetables,  they  are  excel- 
lent for  fruits  and  vines,  and  many  acres  of  orchard  and  vineyard  are  located  in  this 
section,  as  fine  as  any  to  be  found  in  the  State.  There  is  no  overestimating  the  extreme 
productiveness  of  this  valley  soil.  The  foothill  region,  formerly  considered  valueless, 
has  been  demonstrated  to  be  excellent  fruit  land,  and  has  long  been  devoted  to  fruit 
culture,  the  results  having  raised  the  market  value  of  these  lands  to  $100  an  acre,  where 
twenty  years  ago  Government  prices  would  have  been  considered  high.  The  soil  gener- 
ally in  the  latter  section  is  red,  pebbly  clay. 

Climate. — Yuba,  like  many  of  its  sister  counties  adjoining,  has  hot  summer  days  in 
July  and  August,  the  mercury  at  times  passing  the  100°  mark,  but  the  evenings  and 
nights  and  mornings  are  invariably  cool.  The  winter  temperature  occasionally  drops 
below  the  frost  line.  The  average  summer  range  is  from  75°  to  90°,  and  of  winter 
between  40°  and  50°.    The  annual  rainfall  in  the  valley  is  between  18  and  20  inches. 

Irrigation.— The  lands  of  the  valley  plains,  devoted  mainly  to  cereals,  where  crop 
failures  are  unknown  and  the  yield  very  high,  require,  and  use  no  irrigation,  except 
seepage  and  pumping  from  the  rivers  where  vegetables  and  alfalfa  are  extensively 
grown.  There  are,  however,  a  half  dozen  irrigating  ditches,  covering  75,000  acres,  and 
furnishing  abundant  water,  principally  in  the  Browns  Valley  irrigation  district. 

Agriculture.— No  separate  figures  for  this  county  are  at  hand  showing  production  of 
cereals,  but  the  joint  wheat  crop  of  Yuba  and  Sutter  Counties  amounts  to  140,000  tons 
annually,  on  the  average.  In  the  low  alluvial  lands  around  Marysville  and  Wheatland, 
and  along  the  rivers,  large  crops  of  alfalfa  and  hops  are  grown  which  cannot  be  excelled 


YosKMiTK  Falls,  2,«34  feet  high. 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES.  97 

for  yield  anywhere  in  the  State.  ^Many  tons  of  potatoes,  tomatoes,  corn,  and  all  other 
vegetables  are  raised  for  the  general  market.  The  Assessor  reports  for  1892,  wheat,  21,247 
acres;  oats,  4,651;  barley,  8,414;  corn,  G40;  hay,  10,131. 

Horticulture.— In  the  wide  range  of  adaptability  of  the  soil  and  climate  to  fruit 
culture,  Yuba  is  not  inferior  to  any  of  her  southern  sister  counties.  The  range  of  fruits 
embraces  lemons,  limes,  pomelos,  loquats,  persimmons,  olives,  citrons,  pomegranates, 
almonds,  walnuts,  chestnuts,  as  well  as  all  the  deciduous  fruits,  with  peaches  in  the  lead. 
The  abundance  of  fruit  production  in  this  and  the  neighboring  county  of  Sutter  justi- 
fied the  establishment  of  the  Marysville  cannery  to  handle  surplus  products,  the  success 
of  which  institution  has  been  very  Mattering;  2,(XX)  tons  of  canned  goods  are  turned  out 
annually.  Its  output  finds  large  markets  in  the  East,  in  England,  and  in  South  .Vmerica. 
During  the  season  450  hands  are  employed  and  |50,000  paid  in  wages.  The  fruit  crop 
handled  in  the  county  in  1892  exceeded  4,500,000  pounds.  :Much  was  marketed  green  by 
the  carload  to  the  Eastern  States.  Oranges  and  lemons  have  been  successfully  grown  in 
the  county  for  many  years.  The  prices  obtained  for  fruits  in  1892  were:  apples,  1  to  2]4 
cents  per  pound;  apricots,  VA  to  2}4;  cherries,  4  to  10;  figs,  3  to  4;  peaches,  2yy,  prunes, 
2]4  to  2%;  almonds,  12;  walnuts,  8  to  9;  grapes,  1^4  to  3} ^.  There  are  2,005  acres  of  orchard 
and  vineyard— 987  bearing  and  1,018  not  bearing. 

Stock  Raising. — That  stock  raising  is  remunerative  in  this  county  is  proved  by  the 
Assessor's  figures  for  1892,  which  give  5,004  horses,  8,215  cattle,  3,613  hogs,  516  mules,  29,025 
sheep,  232  Angora  goats,  and  1,026  dozen  poultry.  The  Marysville  Woolen  Mills  con- 
sume annually  750,000  pounds  of  wool,  in  tweeds,  flannels,  and  blankets. 

Timber.— There  is  a  large  tract  of  valuable  timber  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county,  and  a  number  of  large  saw  mills  among  them.  DiflSculty  of  access  has  thus  far 
prevented  any  great  amount  of  development. 

Mining. — Extensive  placer  and  hydraulic  claims  in  this  county  yielded  millions  of 
gold  in  early  days,  and  doubtless  the  deposits  are  not  yet  worked  out,  though  mining 
has  nearlj'  ceased,  owing  to  litigation  relating  to  the  deposit  of  detritus.  The  principal 
mining  section  is  around  Smartsville,  Camptonville,  Brownsville,  and  Strawberry  Val- 
ley.   Quartz  mining  is  receiving  attention  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 

Prices  of  Land.— Lands  can  be  bought  of  private  parties  at  reasonable  rates  and  on 
easy  terms,  and  a  number  of  colony  tracts  are  offered  in  small  subdivisions  of  10  acres 
and  upwards,  with  water  for  irrigation,  and  on  easy  terms. 

THREE    NEW   COUNTIES. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  the  formation  of  three  new  counties  was  author- 
ized. Since  the  description  of  counties  was  written  the  electors  of  the  new  districts 
voted  in  favor  of  the  formation  of  the  counties,  named  respectively  Kings,  Madera,  and 
Riverside.    Nothing  more  than  a  brief  description  can  be  given. 

KINGS. 

This  county  is  formed  of  the  western  portion  of  Tulare  County,  including  the  "  Mussel 
Slough  "  country,  or  Lucerne  district,  great  in  raisins,  and  the  Tulare  Lake.  Its  area  is 
561  square  miles,  or  3.59,000  acres,  has  an  assessed  property  valuation  of  $7,523,485,  and  a 
population  of  7,900.  Its  established  irrigation  system  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  State. 
Hanford  is  the  county  seat. 

MADERA. 

This  county  will  absorb  all  of  Fresno  County  north  of  the  San  Joaquin  River,  about 
100  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  25  miles  wide.  Its  area  is  2,100  square  miles,  or  1,.344,000 
acres,  with  a  population  of  about  8,000  and  an  assessed  valuation  of  $7,500,(X)0.  Madera, 
with  a  population  of  1,800,  located  near  the  county  center,  will  be  the  county  seat.  This 
new  county  includes  numerous  prosperous  colonies  and  some  of  the  richest  land  in  the 
State. 

RIVERSIDE. 

This  county  is  formed  of  segregated  portions  of  San  Bernardino  and  San  Diego 
Counties,  extending  across  the  State  from  the  ocean  to  the  Colorado  River.  San  Ber- 
nardino surrenders  .590  square  miles,  and  San  Diego  6,418  square  miles  to  form  the  new 
county.    San  Bernardino  parts  with  the  rich  valleys  and  foothills  of  the  southwest 

7 


y<5  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

section,  including  the  towns  of  Riverside,  South  Riverside,  Allessandro,  Beaumont,  and 
Banning.  San  Diego  loses  the  district  embracing  Elsinore,  San  Jacinto,  Winchester, 
Murietta,  and  Fallbrook.  The  new  county  appropriates  |8,700,000  of  San  Bernardino 
assessment,  and  $3,849,114  of  San  Diego,  making  a  total  assessed  valuation  of  $12,549,114, 
The  county  is  rich,  progressive,  abounds  in  natural  resources,  and  has  on  foot  large 
irrigation  schemes  to  bring  extensive  tracts  of  its  fertile  soil  under  cultivation.  Its 
prospects  for  material  advancement  are  of  the  brightest.    Riverside  is  the  county  seat. 


TOPOGRAPHY   OF  THE  STATE. 

Condensed  from  an  article  by  T.  C.  Judkins,  of  World's  Fair  Commission. 

In  its  topography  California  includes  the  highest  as  well  as  the  lowest  land  in  the 
United  States;  valleys,  the  most  beautiful  and  productive;  deserts,  dry  and  barren; 
elevated  regions,  where  the  rainfall  is  so  great  as  to  keep  the  slopes  comparatively 
drenched;  depressed  spots,  where  from  year  to  year  hardly  a  cloud  flecks  the  sky; 
mountains,  steep,  rugged,  and  alpine  in  their  glacial  fields  of  ice  and  snow;  plains,  on 
which  neither  snow  nor  ice  is  known;  wide  bays,  magnificent  views,  picturesque  lakes, 
the  highest  waterfalls  in  the  world,  the  oldest  forests,  and  the  tallest  trees. 

Speaking  in  general,  California  is  a  parallelogram  extending  northwest  and  south- 
east, from  latitude  32°  SO*  to  42°  north,  a  total  length  of  about  800  miles,  and  an  average 
width  of  about  200  miles.  In  area  it  is  the  second  in  size  in  the  Union,  containing 
158,360  square  miles,  or  more  than  two  and  one  half  times  the  combined  area  of  all  the 
New  England  States.  If  California  were  transferred  to  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  her 
coast-line  would  extend  from  Boston,  Mass.,  to  Savannah,  Ga. 

The  two  mountain  ranges' of  the  State  exert  an  important  influence  upon  its  climate, 
which  is  here  less  a  question  of  latitude  than  of  altitude  and  distance  from  the  sea. 
They  start  from  a  common  origin,  and  run  southerly  for  over  500  miles,  to  unite  again 
at  Tehachapi.  Gradually  separating  they  widen  to  a  distance  of  140  miles  from  summit 
to  summit. 

The  main  range,  the  Sierra  Nevada  (saw-notched  snowy),  forms  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  State,  and  varies  in  general  altitude  from  5,000  to  8,000  feet;  it  has  43  mountain 
peaks,  among  the  highest  of  which  are  Mount  Shasta,  14,511  feet  high,  and  Mount  Whit- 
ney, 15,860  feet,  the  highest  mountain  in  the  United  States.  Lake  Tahoe  and  Yosemite 
Valley  are  among  the  other  most  distinguished  features  of  the  range.  Along  the  west- 
ern slope  is  the  famous  warm  fruit  belt,  averaging  12  miles  wide,  within  the  limits  of  30O 
and  1,500  feet  altitude,  and  stretching  from  Shasta  to  Kern  County. 

The  Coast  Range,  which  follows  the  sea  line  and  comprises  a  number  of  subordinate 
ranges,  extends  the  entire  length  of  the  State.  It  varies  from  2,000  to  6,000  feet  in  height 
and  from  20  to  40  miles  in  width,  the  summit  of  the  range  averaging  probably  50  miles 
from  the  ocean.  In  this  range  are  many  valleys,  some  large,  some  small,  but  all  exceed- 
ingly productive,  and  with  the  exception  of  those  in  the  extreme  southern  portion  of 
State,  irrigation  therein  is  not  necessary  to  produce  horticultural  products. 

The  northern  part  of  the  State  above  Redding  is  mountainous,  being  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  Coast  Range  and  the  Sierra  Nevada.  It  has  many  fertile  valleys  and 
wide  plateaus.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  State  the  Coast  and  Nevada  ranges  meet 
and  break  up  into  many  ranges,  having  distinct  names.  The  main  body  begins  at  the 
west  line  of  Santa  Barbara  County  and  trends  east  and  southeast.  On  the  southern 
slope  are  sunny  valleys,  rolling  hills,  and  mesas,  which  constitute  Southern  California. 

VALLEYS   OF   CALIFORNIA, 

Of  the  158,360  square  miles,  or  101,450,400  acres,  in  California,  it  is  estimated  that  about 
one  third,  or  35,000,000  acres,  can  be  readily  brought  under  cultivation.  The  one  great 
valley  system  of  California  lies  between  the  Sierra  and  Coast  ranges  of  mountains,  but 
is  popularly  divided  into  two  valleys,  the  Sacramento  and  the  San  Joaquin,  the  names 
being  given  them  from  the  rivers  that  form  their  principal  drainage. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES.  99 

The  San  Joaquin  Valley  extends  from  the  southern  extremity  in  Kern  County  to  the 
mouth  of  the  San  Joaquin  River,  nearly  east  of  San  Francisco,  240  miles  long,  with  an 
average  width  of  45  miles.    It  contains  about  11,000  square  miles,  or  7,(X)0,000  acres. 

The  Sacramento  Valley,  the  second  largest  in  the  State,  is  about  100  miles  long,  and 
extends  from  Red  Bluff  on  the  north  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sacramento  River  at  junction 
with  the  San  Joaquin,  and  averages  about  40  miles  wide,  and  contains  about  (),200  sijiiare 
miles,  or  4,000,000  acres.  It  is  an  unbroken  plain,  except  where  the  Marysville  lUittes 
rise  in  Sutter  Countj'  to  a  height  of  2,000  feet. 

Besides  these  two  great  valleys  innumerable  smaller  ones  are  found  in  both  the  Coast 
and  Sierra  Nevada  ranges.  These  are  usually  well  watered  and  exceedingly  fertile,  and 
are  found  at  altitudes  varying  from  ocean-level  to  8,000  feet  or  more  of  elevation,  and 
varying  in  area  from  a  few  acres  to  miles  in  extent. 

The  Santa  Clara  Valley  is  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  State,  both  in  size  and 
fertility.  It  opens  on  San  Francisco  Bay,  where  it  has  a  width  of  20  miles,  and  extends 
in  a  southerly  direction  for  about  70  miles,  its  southern  end  narrowing  to  a  mile  or  less 
in  width. 

North  of  San  Francisco  and  opening  on  the  waters  of  the  harbor  are  Sonoma  and 
Napa  Valleys,  each  having  a  series  of  smaller  valleys  tributary  thereto,  and  all  being 
exceedingly  fertile.  Vaca  and  Capay  Valleys,  opening  into  the  Sacramento  Valley  from 
its  western  side,  are  small,  but  noted  for  early  fruits. 

In  the  northern  portion  of  the  State,  Eel  River  and  Hoopa  Valleys,  of  the  Klamath 
and  Trinity  Rivers,  Scott  Valley,  in  Siskiyou  County,  Surprise  and  Round  Valleys,  in 
Modoc  County,  and  Honey  Lake  Valley,  in  Lassen  County,  vary  in  length  from  30  to 
60  miles,  and  in  width  from  2  to  20  miles,  the  soil  in  general  being  deej)  and  rich.  From 
Plumas  County  a  series  of  fruitful  valleys  stretches  for  100  miles  southeastward  into 
Sierra  County.  In  Alameda  and  Contra  Costa  Counties  are  several  valleys  of  great 
fertility,  their  nearness  to  the  San  Francisco  market  making  them  particularly  desirable. 
The  Alameda  Valley,  extending  for  many  miles  eastward  from  Oakland,  contains  a  belt 
of  excellent  fruit  land. 

The  Salinas  Valley  heads  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  runs  north  100  miles,  empties 
into  Monterey  Bay,  and  is  from  5  to  15  miles  wide.  The  Santa  Clara,  in  Ventura  County, 
the  Santa  Maria,  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  and  the  Arroyo  Grande,  in  San  Luis  Obispo 
County,  are  all  notable  valleys. 

South  of  the  Tehachapi  :Mountains,  which  are  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  and  Coast  Range,  and  included  in  the  counties  of  Los  Angeles,  Santa  Barbara, 
San  Bernardino,  Orange,  Riverside,  and  San  Diego,  are  some  of  the  most  important  and 
fruitful  valleys  in  the  State.  The  region  is  subdivided  into  the  Los  Angeles  and  San 
Bernardino  plains,  the  chief  agricultural  region  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  State, 
and  the  rolling  hills,  mesas,  or  table  lands,  and  small  valleys  of  San  Diego. 

The  Los  Angeles  and  San  Bernardino  plains  extend  westward  to  the  ocean,  and  along 
the  coast  for  about  65  miles,  being  broken  by  a  small  range  known  as  the  Riente  Hills, 
Antelope  Valley  lies  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  Los  Angeles  County,  and  opens 
toward  the  Mojave  Desert. 

The  San  Jacinto  plains  extend  from  San  Bernardino  County  southward  into  San 
Diego  County,  and  form  an  extensive  area,  somewhat  level  in  general  character,  but 
interspersed  with  numerous  buttes.  The  western  portion  of  San  Diego  County  is 
covered  with  rolling  hills  and  mountains,  which  are  often  bisected  with  numerous  small 
valleys,  both  the  mesas  and  the  valleys  being  exceedingly  productive. 

In  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  State  is  an  immense  plateau,  beginning  on  the 
southern  boundary  line  and  extending  northwestward  through  the  eastern  portions  of 
San  Diego,  San  Bernardino,  Los  Angeles,  and  Kern  Counties,  and  over  the  greater 
portion  of  Inyo  County.  This  region  is  known  as  the  ^fojave  and  Colorado  Deserts,  is 
about  200  miles  long  and  100  wide,  contains  about  20,000  square  miles,  and  lies  at  an 
elevation  of  2,000  feet  above  the  sea.  It  is  destitute  of  vegetation,  but  responds  to 
irrigation. 

BAYS    AND    HARBORS. 

The  coast-line  of  California,  which  is  850  miles  in  length,  or  1,200  miles  following  the 
shore,  is  studded  with  numerous  roadsteads,  bays,  river  entrances,  and  sheltered  land- 


100  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

ings  that  furnish  opportunity  for  a  safe  and  clieap  coastwise  trade,  besides  possessing 
two  harbors  suitable  for  the  largest  vessels  and  at  least  two  more  that  admit  vessels  of 
16  feet  draught. 

San  Francisco  Bay  is  the  finest  harbor  on  the  coasb  of  the  two  Americas,  and  one  of 
the  finest  and  safest  of  the  world.  The  Golden  Gate,  its  entrance,  is  about  one  mile 
wide,  but  the  bay  broadens  rapidly,  and  forms  a  series  of  bays,  having  an  area  of  450 
square  miles,  or  288,000  acres.  San  Francisco  Bay  proper  extends  30  miles  south  and  10 
miles  north.  Adjoining  on  the  north  is  San  Pablo  Bay,  12  miles  in  length,  connecting 
with  Suisun  Bay,  of  still  greater  length.  There  is  about  30  feet  of  water  on  the  bar  at 
low  tide,  with  an  increase  of  two  to  ten  times  that  depth  farther  up  the  bay.  This 
harbor  possesses  all  the  requirements  for  a  great  commercial  port — safety,  commodious- 
ness,  and  capacity. 

San  Diego  Bay,  500  miles  south  of  San  Francisco,  and  only  10  miles  north  of  the 
Mexican  boundary,  is  14  miles  long  and  from  1  to  2  miles  wide,  forming  a  harbor  of 
great  commercial  value,  the  second  in  importance  in  the  State.  There  is  a  depth  of  21 
feet  on  the  bar  at  low  tide,  but  inside  the  channel  the  water  is  much  deeper. 

Humboldt  Bay,  200  miles  north  of  San  Francisco,  is  14  miles  long  from  north  to 
south,  and  has  an  average  width  of  3  miles,  and  a  tidal  area  of  45  square  miles.  The 
depth  of  water  on  the  bar  at  the  entrance  varies  from  9  to  22  feet,  but  the  Government 
is  now  constructing  a  series  of  jetties  that  will  increase  the  depth. 

San  Pedro  Bay,  24  miles  south  of  Los  Angeles,  has  in  Wilmington  Harbor  an  artificial 
seaport  that,  with  the  aid  of  the  Government,  is  being  converted  into  a  safe  anchorage 
for  deep-sea  vessels.  Vessels  drawing  12  feet  of  water  now  enter  at  low  tide,  and  those 
drawing  16  to  18  feet  at  high  tide. 

Redondo  Beach  and  the  bay  at  Santa  Monica,  ports  of  Los  Angeles  County,  both 
form  harbors  that  with  money  and  engineering  skill  can  be  made  suitable  for  the 
reception  of  deep-water  vessels. 

At  Santa  Barbara  and  Port  Harford  there  are  good  anchorages,  except  during  storms 
from  the  south. 

RIVERS    OF   CALIFORNIA. 

The  Sacramento  and  the  San  Joaquin  Rivers  are  the  arteries  of  the  State.  The 
former  heads  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  and  flows  southward,  draining  the 
great  Sacramento  Valley.  The  latter  heads  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  range  well  to  the 
southward,  and  flows  northward,  draining  the  larger  portion  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley. 
The  rivers  meet  and  empty  into  Suisun  Bay,  at  a  point  about  35  miles  due  northeast  of 
San  Francisco.    Both  are  navigable  streams. 

The  Klamath  River,  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State,  is  large  and  important, 
especially  on  account  of  the  large  watershed  that  it  drains,  but  it  is  not  navigable.  Eel 
and  Russian  Rivers  are  the  two  next  most  important  streams  that  empty  into  the  Pacific 
Ocean  north  of  San  Francisco. 

Pitt,  Fall,  McCloud,  Feather,  Yuba,  Bear,  and  American  Rivers  are  the  chief  tributa- 
ries of  the  Sacramento  River.  The  Cosumnes,  Mokelumne,  Calaveras,  Stanislaus,  Tuol- 
umne, Merced,  and  Fresno  Rivers  are  leading  tributaries  of  the  San  Joaquin  River,  all 
having  their  sources  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  range. 

The  streams  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State  that  rise  in  the  Sierra,  such  as  Kings, 
Kaweah,  Tule,  and  Kern  Rivers,  find  their  outlet  in  Tulare  Lake.  In  their  course,  how- 
ever, their  waters  have  been  gradually  diverted  for  purposes  of  irrigation,  and  have 
changed  what  were  once  considered  arid  plains  into  lands  among  the  most  fruitful  in 
California,  or  even  in  the  world.  The  Mojave  River  rises  in  the  northern  slope  of  the 
San  Bernardino  Mountains,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  but  after  flowing  a  short  distance 
sinks  into  the  Mojave  Desert. 

Southward  from  San  Francisco  is  the  Salinas  River,  100  miles  long,  which  empties 
into  Monterey  Bay,  and  along  the  coast  are  many  small  but  important  streams  that 
have  their  sources  in  the  Coast  Range  and  empty  into  the  ocean. 

In  Southern  California  there  are  a  number  of  rivers,  too  numerous  to  mention,  that 
are  comparatively  torrents  in  winter  and  dry  beds  in  summer,  but  which  are  of  incal- 
culable value  to  their  several  districts,  as  they  supply  ample  water  for  irrigation,  which 
is  the  life-blood  of  the  present  citrus  fruit  center  of  the  State. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RKSOURCES.  101 

LAKES,  BEAUTIFUL  AND  USEFUL. 

In  size,  beauty,  and  importance,  the  lakes  of  California  differ  as  widely  as  the 
climate  of  the  valley  regions  differs  from  that  on  the  summits  of  the  Sierra.  The  total 
area  of  the  lakes  in  the  State  is  approximately  given  at  2,;iS0  stjuare  njiles.  or  1,500,000 
acres.  Lake  Tahoe,  in  Placer  and  El  Dorado  Counties,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
bodies  of  water  in  the  world;  its  elevation  is  6,247  feet  above  the  sea,  is  22  miles  long,  10 
miles  wide,  and  half  a  mile  in  depth.  In  Modoc  County  are  tiiree  salt  lakes  covering 
64,000  acres.  Goose,  Rhett,  Clear,  Klamath,  and  Donner  Lakes  have  large  areas,  I>assen 
County  has  twenty-two  permanent  lakes,  with  an  area  of  94,000  acres;  the  largest  are 
Honey  and  Eagle  Lakes,  covering  27,000  acres.  Clear  Lake,  in  Lake  County,  is  a  pictur- 
esque lake,  25  miles  long  and  8  miles  wide.  Mono  and  Owens  Lakes  are  on  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Sierra.  Tulare  Lake,  in  Tulare  County,  is  the  largest  lake  in  the  State, 
having  an  original  area  of  160,000  acres,  but  now  somewhat  lessened.  In  the  southern 
counties  of  the  State  there  are  a  number  of  lakes,  but  they  are  small  in  comjjarison  to 
the  bodies  named.  The  soil  about  the  lakes  is  generally  fertile;  the  waters,  except  that 
of  Owens  and  Mono,  and  the  salt  lakes  of  Modoc,  are  of  crystalline  purity,  and  abound 
with  fish.  The  Coast  and  Sierra  ranges  boast  of  hundreds  of  gem-like  lakes  tiiat 
give  an  added  charm  to  scenic  features,  yet  they  all,  together  with  the  larger  lakes, 
possess  a  high  utilitarian  value  from  the  important  influence  they  directly  and  indi- 
rectly exert  upon  the  water  systems  of  the  State,  and  therefore  upon  many  of  its 
most  important  industries. 


CLIMATE  OF  CALIFORNIA,  AND  ITS  ECONOMIC  VALUE. 

By  Gen.  N.  P.  Chipman,  of  Red  Bluff. 

The  economic  value  of  climate  is  not  measured  by  temperature  alone.  If  this  were 
not  true,  we  would  only  have  to  consult  the  readings  of  the  thermometer,  and  wherever 
we  found  like  temperatures  would  also  be  found  like  economic  results.  For  exanii)Ie, 
Florida,  which  shows  a  mean  maximum  and  minimum  temperature  about  the  same  as 
in  the  low  altitudes  of  California,  does  not  produce  the  prune  or  the  raisin,  nor,  indeed, 
but  few  of  the  wide  range  of  fruits  grown  here.  The  soft  and  delicious  atmosphere  of 
the  south  of  Italy,  where  minimum  temperatures  are  about  the  same  as  in  California, 
does  not  give  the  tiller  of  the  soil  nearly  so  many  advantages  as  are  found  here. 

In  judging  of  climate,  there  is  nothing  so  misleading  and  inconclusive  as  tables  of 
mean  annual  temperatures.  For  example,  the  mean  annual  temperature  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  there  is  seldom  a  frost  and  rarely  a  hot  day,  is  only  about  5°  higlier 
than  the  mean  temperature  of  New  York  City,  where  people  perish  in  the  street  both 
by  extreme  cold  and  heat.  It  is  obvious  that  mean  temperatures  convey  but  a  slight 
idea  of  actual  climatic  conditions,  and  do  not  necessarily  imply  either  high  or  low 
temperatures  in  summer  and  winter. 

It  does  not  much  concern  the  intending  settler  what  the  causes  of  existing  climates 
may  be,  so  long  as  they  are  constant  and  likely  to  be  permanent.  If  he  can  find  a 
climate  to  suit  him  that  is  determined  by  fixed  laws  and  unchanging  physical  condi- 
tions, he  is  not  curious  to  search  farther. 

Nevertheless,  I  will  as  briefly  as  possible  state  some  of  the  distinguishing  features  of 
California's  climate,  and  the  chief  causes  that  are  generally  stated  as  producing  the 
conditions  existing  here.  I  shall  deal  with  the  subject  in  an  entirely  untechnical  way, 
and  as  the  facts  impress  an  ordinary  observer.  We  have  three  distinct  climatic  Ijelts  or 
zones— a  climate  of  the  higher  or  mountain  altitudes,  a  climate  of  the  interior  low 
altitudes,  or  valleys,  and  a  climate  of  the  seacoast.  These  in  turn  have  their  modifica- 
tions as  to  localities,  but  retain  their  leading  features. 

The  Siskiyou  Mountains  (height,  8,000  feet)  connect  the  Coast  Range  on  the  north 
with  the  Sierra  Nevada  range,  which  latter  forms  a  high  wall  extending  along  the  ea.st 
boundary  of  the  State  well  toward  its  southern  boundary.  This  lofty  battlement  on 
the  north  and  east  has  much  to  do  in  warding  off  the  arctic  currents  and  deflecting  them 


102  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

from  the  lower  valleys.  There  are  large  areas  of  mountain  valleys  in  this  region  of  rich 
and  fertile  soil.  In  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  State  there  is  a  very  large  country 
practically  unoccupied.  The  elevation  is  from  3,500  to  4,500  feet  ahove  the  sea.  The 
summers  are  nearly  rainless  and  the  winters  mild,  with  occasional  cold  days  when  the 
thermometer  goes  down  to  and  sometimes  below  zero.  In  places  higher  in  the  mount- 
ains heavy  snow  is  experienced,  which  diminishes,  however,  as  one  goes  east  from  the 
high  altitudes.  The  summers  are  delightful.  Hardy  fruits,  grains,  and  the  grasses  all 
flourish  in  many  of  these  valleys.  When  lines  of  transportation  reach  these  regions 
the  country  will  be  sought  by  many,  because  more  nearly  resembling  the  climate  and 
country  to  which  they  are  accustomed,  but  with  much  less  of  its  rigor. 

The  interior  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  lie  along  the  base  and  west 
of  the  Sierra,  and  extend  from  Shasta  County,  latitude  corresponding  with  New  York 
City  on  the  Atlantic,  to  Kern  County,  in  latitude  corresponding  with  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina.  Here  the  Tehachapi  Mountains  rise  up  and  connect  the  Coast  Range  with  the 
Sierra.  South  of  the  Tehachapi  is  the  region  known  as  Southern  California.  The  Sierra 
range  has  an  average  altitude  of  6,000  feet,  with  many  spurs  and  peaks  extending  to 
more  than  twice  that  height.  The  Coast  Range  is  higher  toward  the  north  than  in  the 
south  boundary  of  the  State.  It  has  a  height  west  of  the  upper  Sacramento  Valley  of 
4,000  feet,  diminishing  as  it  goes  south.  This  range  is  also  an  important  factor  in  affect- 
ing the  climate  of  the  interior  valleys,  by  shutting  off  the  cool  sea  breezes  of  summer, 
as  well  as  the  modifying  winds  of  winter.  For  example,  the  ocean  breezes  of  summer 
that  blow  almost  constantly  from  the  ocean  toward  the  shore  are  not  felt  directly  in 
the  Sacramento  Valley,  except  as  they  enter  at  the  Golden  Gate  and  follow  up  or  down 
that  valley  and  into  the  San  Joaquin  Valley.  At  Monterey  these  breezes  reach  into  the 
interior  some  distance  and  give  a  cool  summer  climate,  but  the  Coast  Range  shuts  them 
off  from  the  Fresno  and  Tulare  and  Kern  County  region,  and  there  the  summer  climate 
is  hot,  as  it  is  also  for  like  reason  in  the  upper  Sacramento  Valley.  Again,  this  Coast 
Range  breaks  into  low  altitudes  south  of  Tehachapi,  and  the  cool  breezes  are  carried  far 
inland  at  Los  Angeles  and  south  of  that  point. 

Latitude  and  declination  of  the  sun  north  or  south  of  the  equator  seem  not  to  be 
essential  factors  of  climate  here,  as  elsewhere.  For  example,  the  line  of  25°  above  zero, 
minimum  temperature,  enters  the  Sacramento  Valley  at  Redding,  in  latitude  corre- 
sponding with  New  York  City,  and  runs  through  this  valley  and  through  the  San 
Joaquin  and  past  Riverside,  550  miles  south,  and  enters  Mexico,  and  emerges  at  Wil- 
mington, North  Carolina,  on  the  Atlantic. 

The  chief  modifier  of  our  climate  is  the  Japan,  or  great  equatorial  ocean  current, 
which  is  deflected  northerly  and  easterly  when  it  meets  the  east  coast  of  Asia.  A  por- 
tion of  this  warm  current  flows  northwest,  washing  the  east  shore  of  China  and  Japan. 
Near  latitude  50°  and  longitude  170°  it  divides,  one  portion  continuing  northerly  through 
Bering  Strait,  and  the  other  south  of  the  Aleutian  Islands.  It  advances  eastward 
until  it  strikes  the  northwest  coast  of  North  America,  then  turns  acutely  to  the  south- 
east, flows  along  the  west  shore,  and  past  California  and  Mexico,  and  is  drawn  again 
into  the  equatorial  current  near  the  Tropic  of  Cancer,  and  takes  up  its  circuit  of  a 
quarter  of  a  hemisphere.  Of  the  constancy  of  this  factor  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
although  it  has  not  been  so  long  or  so  deeply  studied  as  the  currents  of  the  Atlantic. 
Professor  Davidson,  however,  has  done  much  to  enlighten  us  on  the  subject.  He  has 
found  this  current  to  start  with  a  maximum  temperature  of  88°.  At  Alaska  it  is  found 
to  be  50.06°.  Eight  hundred  miles  west  of  San  Francisco  it  is  60.33°.  One  hundred 
miles  west  it  is  55.05°.  At  Fort  Point  the  mean  for  eight  years  was  55.66°,  while  the 
temperature  of  the  air  was  54.97°.  Nine  hundred  miles  west  of  San  Francisco  the  mean 
temperature  of  the  water  for  one  year  was  60.52°.  This  shows  the  current  far  out  at  sea 
to  be  about  4°  warmer  than  that  near  the  shore,  and  that  the  Japan  Current  loses  about 
22°  of  its  heat  in  the  circuit  to  a  point  off  our  coast.  We  have,  then,  a  body  of  water 
explored  for  1,000  miles  in  width,  flowing  past  our  shores  constantly,  of  an  average 
temperature  of  57.89°.  Observation  shows  also  an  air  current  flowing  from  this  surface 
that  rarely  rises  more  than  2°  or  3°  above  the  temperature  of  the  water.  There 
is  a  great  aerial  current  that  moves  with  the  ocean  stream,  and  is  the  counter  trade- 
wind  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  largely  determines  the  climate  of  California. 
This  air  current  oscillates  from  the  south  of  west  at  one  portion  of  the  year  to  north 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIEU     RKSOrRCKS.  103 

of  west  at  the  other,  moving  measurably  with  the  sun's  declension,  and,  singularly 
enough,  giving  a  more  balmy  and  agreeable  climate  in  the  winter  than  in  summer  on 
the  immediate  coast.  But  this  coast  climate  varies  but  little  throughout  tlie  year.  At 
San  Diego,  same  latitude  as  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  the  climate  is  8°  cooler.  San 
Francisco  and  Washington,  D.  C,  are  in  the  same  latitude  and  liave  the  same  mean 
temperature,  but  a  wholly  dissimilar  climate,  because  of  the  great  difference  between 
the  winter  and  summer— at  "Washington  amounting  to  40°,  while  at  San  Francisco  it  is 
not  over  8°. 

It  has  been  observed  that  whatever  may  be  the  cause  of  the  wind  in  the  forenoon,  it 
almost  invariably  works  around  and  blows  from  the  west  in  the  spring,  summer,  and 
autumn  months,  and  of  course  across  the  mild  Japan  Current.  An  intelligent  observer 
(Dr.  Gibbons)  found  that  for  seven  months,  from  April  to  October,  inclusive,  there  were 
but  three  days  (and  these  were  rainy  in  April)  in  which  this  phenomenon  was  not 
noticed.  If  it  were  not  for  the  Coast  Range,  interposed  between  our  great  valleys  and 
the  ocean,  we  would  have  our  present  coast  climate  far  into  the  interior  and  "up  the 
slopes  of  the  Sierra.  As  it  is,  the  ocean  breezes  find  their  way  through  every  opening 
and  over  the  low  altitudes  of  this  range,  and  greatly  influence  many  places. 

In  Southern  California  the  Coast  Range  is  low,  and  offers  but  liitle  resistance  to  the 
ocean  current,  and  the  effect  is  felt  many  miles  inland.  The  heat  of  the  valleys  modifies 
the  harsher  ocean  winds  and  gives  a  balminess  to  the  atmosphere  that  has  given  to 
Southern  California  a  world-wide  reputation  as  a  sanitarium,  and  has  made  it  the  home 
of  our  tropical  and  sub-tropical  fruits.  The  characteristic  features  of  the  coast  climate 
are  cool  summers  and  mild  winters,  and  abundant  rainfall,  this  latter  diminishing  as 
we  go  south. 

Among  the  assigned  causes  of  this  constant  draught  of  the  ocean  air  current  is  the 
fact  that  to  the  east  lie  the  Colorado,  Mojave,  and  Nevada  Deserts,  which  are  great 
reservoirs  of  heat.  Each  day,  as  the  sun  rises  over  this  vast  area,  the  sands  become 
heated,  the  temperature  of  the  air  increases,  the  air  rises,  and  the  cooler  currents  of  the 
ocean  atmosi^here  rush  landward  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  interior  or  valley  climate  is  characterized  by  mild  winters,  warm  summers 
(with  occasional  hot  days),  and  less  rainfall  than  on  the  coast,  and  diminishing  from 
north  to  south,  as  on  the  coast.  In  all  parts  of  the  State  our  summers  are  practically 
rainless— on  the  coast,  in  the  mountains,  and  in  the  valleys— from  the  middle  of  May 
or  June  1st  to  the  middle  of  October  or  November  1st. 

Coming  into  the  interior  we  find  that  temperatures  are  practically  the  same  in  the 
foothills  to  an  elevation  of  1,500  to  2,000  feet,  with  this  difference,  that  the  nights  are 
cooler  at  the  higher  elevations,  and  the  rainfall  is  greater  by  about  one  inch  to  each  100 
feet.  This  further  difference  is  also  noticeable:  the  temperature  of  the  valley  is  carried 
farther  up  the  mountain  as  we  go  south.  For  example,  if  the  temperature  of  Redding 
(the  extreme  north  of  Sacramento  Valley)  is  carried  up  2,000  feet,  at  Bakersfield  or 
Sumner  (the  extreme  south  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley)  it  would  be  carried  up  3,000  feet 
approximately. 

A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  the  trend  of  the  east  coast  of  the  United  States  to  be 
sharply  from  west  to  east.  The  east  coast  of  Florida  is  west  of  a  line  drawn  north 
through  Pittsburg,  or  is  about  600  miles  west  of  Boston.  The  west  coast  of  California  at 
San  Diego  is  about  40°  longitude,  while  the  west  coast  of  Alaska  is  about  98°,  or  nearly 
3,000  miles  farther  west.  San  Diego  is  nearly  400  miles  east  of  Cape  Mendocino.  The 
arctic  north  winds  that  sweep  across  our  continent  find  no  obstruction  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  and  often  reach  far  south  and  into  Florida.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  they  are 
carried  out  to  sea,  or,  if  thej'  are  deflected  down  the  coast,  are  modified  by  the  Japan 
Current  before  they  reach  California;  or  they  are  arrested  and  deflected  eastward  by 
the  great  mountain  barrier  stretching  from  the  soutliern  boundary  of  the  State  far  into 
Alaska,  in  an  unbroken  and  ragged  wall  from  70  to  100  miles  in  width,  and  from  1  to  2 
miles  in  height.  There  are  many  charming  small  valleys  and  nooks  found  in  the  Coast 
Range  that  have  neither  the  coast  climate  nor  the  interior  valley  climate.  The  Santa 
Clara,  Napa,  Sonoma,  Livermore,  and  other  valleys  are  examples.  They  have  the 
advantages  of  both  climates  to  some  degree,  and  less  of  the  disadvantages  of  either. 
I  am  not  permitted  space  to  point  these  out  or  to  go  into  greater  detail.  Location  with 
reference  to  the  sea  and  the  mountain  ranges  determines  these  advantages. 


104 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 


The  characteristic  features  of  the  interior  valleys,  as  already  noted,  are  warm  and 
rainless  summers,  dry  atmosphere,  rain  in  winter  months  and  moderately  cold,  with  a 
minimum  temperature  rarely  reaching  20°  above  zero,  and  generally  about  48°  mean 
winter  temperature.  The  dryness  of  the  atmosphere  makes  outdoor  labor,  when  the 
thermometer  marks  even  100°  or  110°,  entirely  comfortable.  This  high  register,  however, 
is  not  common.  The  nights  are  almost  uniformly  pleasant  and  agreeable,  and  assure 
refreshing  sleep. 

Some  general  facts  as  to  the  agricultural  products  will  illustrate  the  interior  valleys: 


When  Sowed. 


When  Matures. 


Wheat.. 

Wheat 

Barley... 

Oats 

Corn 

Beans 

Peas 

Tomatoes 

Apricots 

Peaches  

Pears 

Apples  -.- 

Oranges 

Cherries 

Almonds 

Plums  and  prunes. 


October  and  November  (summer-fallow). 
December  and  .January  (winter-sown)... 

December  and  January 

January  and  February 

February  and  March 

February  and  March.. 

February  and  March 

February  and  March 


—  - July. 

July. 

.  June  and  July. 
.  June  and  July. 
June  to  August. 

May  to  July. 

...April  to  June. 
May  to  July. 


March 

March 

April.. 

April. 

April... 

IMarch  and  April . . 
January  to  March. 
March 


May  to  July. 

..  May  to  November. 

June  to  October. 

..June  to  November. 
.December  to  March. 

May  to  July. 

October. 

June  to  October. 


In  many  portions  of  Southern  California  and  along  the  coast  garden  vegetables  are 
grown  throughout  the  year,  and  hardy  vegetables  are  growing  every  month  in  all  the 
interior  valleys,  except  in  the  mountains. 

The  grain  farmer,  for  summer-fallow  crop,  plows  his  land  in  the  spring;  it  lies  fallow 
till  October  or  November,  when  he  sows  it;  he  next,  after  rain  comes,  plows  for  winter- 
sowed  grain,  which  should  be  sowed  by  January,  although  we  make  good  crops  some- 
times by  sowing  as  late  as  March  in  good  soil.  Harvest  season  begins  in  INIay  and  June 
for  hay,  and  in  June  and  July  for  grain,  and  continues  to  August.  The  grain  is  cut  and 
stacked,  and  afterwards  threshed,  or  is  threshed  as  it  is  cut.  It  may  be  left  in  the  field 
without  fear  of  rain. 

The  fruit  grower  plows  and  plants  trees  soon  after  the  rainy  season— in  December  or 
January;  he  prunes  his  trees  in  November  and  December,  or  later;  he  plows  his  orchard 
in  January  or  February,  and  replows  and  cultivates  until  June  or  July.  His  early  fruits 
begin  to  come  in  by  May,  and  are  followed  almost  continuously  by  successive  varieties 
of  other  fruits  until  November,  when  late  pears  are  gathered. 

In  November  and  December  olives  are  ready  for  the  pickle  and  press,  and  in  January, 
February,  March,  and  April  our  oranges  are  marketed,  thus  making  the  round  of  the 
year,  and  every  month  yielding  its  return  of  some  kinds  of  fruit.  The  orange  ripens  a 
month  earlier  in  Northern  California  than  in  Southern  California.  The  fruit  grower,  it 
will  be  seen,  has  no  day  when  work  is  not  before  him.  The  season  between  the  last  fruit 
picking  and  the  work  for  the  next  year  is  scarcely  long  enough  to  repair  tools,  clean  up 
packing  houses,  and  prepare  for  the  new  year. 

It  may  be  stated  generally  that  the  climate  is  milder  in  Southern  California  than  in 
Northern  California.  The  minimum  temperature  is  lower  north  than  south,  and  the 
maximum  higher.    This  is  true  both  on  the  coast  and  in  the  interior. 

I  come  now  to  a  brief  statement  of  the  economic  value  of  this  phenomenal  climate. 
There  are  many  ways  to  illustrate  this  value. 

As  a  sanitarium,  California  will  always  present  unusual  attractions.  The  healthful- 
ness  of  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  in  all  our  distinctive  climatic  belts,  is  remarked  by  all 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HKR     RESOURCES.  105 

who  come  here.  I  am  not  speaking  of  the  country  for  invalids,  however,  but  call  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  people  from  the  East  and  West  who  come  here  to  reside  experience 
renewed  vigor  and  life  wherever  they  settle.  It  is  an  erroneous  idea,  sonietimes  enter- 
tained, that  the  mild  climate  of  California  begets  that  lassitude  and  indisposition  to 
labor  so  common  to  tropical  climates.  We  engage  here  indoors  and  outdoors  in  all  the 
occupations  found  in  the  temperate  zone,  in  the  tield,  work-slioj.,  and  factory,  and  with 
all  the  zest  and  ambition  that  distinguish  the  American  peoi)le  elsewhere. 

Another  result  of  great  economic  value  is  that  every  day  in  the  year  is  a  comfortable 
working  day.  This  cannot  fail  to  impress  industrious  and  frugal  people  who  wish  to 
utilize  their  capital,  which  lies  largely  in  daily  earnings.  Considering  our  agricultural 
interest  broadly,  there  is  no  dormant  or  idle  season,  or  a  period  when  consumption  eats 
away  production,  as  in  countries  where  severe  cold  paralyzes  productive  effort  for  half 
the  year.  I  am  not  speaking  of  what  some  farmers  do  in  California,  but  of  what  all 
farmers  may  do  in  California.  Intelligent,  diversified  agriculture  admits  of  no  neces- 
sarily idle  day,  and  no  day  without  the  possibility  of  adding  the  productive  value  of  a 
day's  work. 

If  we  turn  to  factories  or  the  workshop,  we  find  the  same  true.  Less  fuel,  less 
clothing,  uninterrupted  work  for  the  year,  and  greater  comfort  result  from  an  equable 
temperature.  I  have  often  heard  thoughtless  persons  speak  of  California  as  no  place 
for  the  poor  man.  It  is  the  reflex  of  the  early  bonanza  days,  and  is  born  of  that 
dangerous  notion  that  success  is  measured  only  by  rapidly  acquired  riches.  I  assert 
unhesitatingly  that  there  is  no  more  inviting  country  on  the  globe  for  the  industrious 
poor.  Every  condition  existing  here  refutes  the  false  idea  that  only  the  rich  may 
prosper. 

This  volume,  issued  under  the  authority  of  the  State,  is  designed  to  show  the  world 
only  facts  easily  verified  by  proofs  to  be  found  in  the  Exposition  grounds  at  Chicago, 
and  especially  in  the  California  Building.  I  invite  the  reader  to  consult  these  evidences 
rather  than  meteorological  tables.  There  will  be  found,  exhibited  by  various  counties 
from  Shasta  to  San  Diego,  every  fruit  of  every  zone— the  cereals,  the  citrus  family,  the 
hardy  apple,  the  date  palm— not  all  in  commercial  quantities,  but  grown  in  unprotected 
and  open  grounds,  subjected  to  all  the  changing  seasons  of  the  year,  and  quite  enough 
to  certify  our  absolute  immunity  from  extreme  cold  or  great  or  intolerable  heat.  Why 
should  there  be  need  of  consulting  climatic  charts  or  tables  with  these  proofs  before 
our  eyes  ? 

Let  me  illustrate  the  practical  value  of  climate  and  soil  where  so  great  a  range  of 
the  fruits  of  the  earth  is  possible.  In  1880  we  shipped  East,  in  all  forms,  546  carloads  of 
fruit.  In  1892,  this  export  industry  reached  20,000  carloads,  and  of  these  9,000  cars  were 
green  deciduous  fruits,  nuts,  and  oranges,  at  least  a  part  of  each  of  which  went  from  a 
region  700  miles  long,  north  and  south.  Prunes,  figs,  raisins,  almonds,  walnuts,  nectar- 
ines, peaches,  pears,  apples,  olives,  plums,  apricots,  oranges,  lemons,  cherries,  have  gone 
to  market  from  a  single  orchard  that  may  be  named  600  miles  north  of  San  Diego. 
California  fruits  are  known  by  the  tasting  as  far  as  in  London,  England,  biit  it  is  not 
known  that  they  are  grown  and  shipped  from  so  widely  separated  regions  of  tlie  State. 

It  is  the  climatic  conditions  found  here  that  make  these  things  possible,  and  it  is 
remarkable,  but  true,  that  all  these  conditions  cannot  be  found  elsewhere  in  any  one 
place  on  the  globe. 

Looking  forward  to  the  immense  importance  of  this  industry,  it  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  our  climate  gives  the  keeping  quality  found  in  our  fruits;  that  our  rainless 
season  and  dry  summer  atmosphere  make  the  open  air  a  natural  dry  house;  that  the 
precocity  of  our  trees  gives  us  profitable  orchards  after  four  years  from  planting,  and 
that  there  is  great  certainty  of  yield  and  great  longevity  to  the  trees.  These  are  all 
economic  factors  in  our  climate  and  give  to  it  great  value. 

It  will  possibly  astonish  some,  but  it  is  true,  that  the  beautiful  orange  groves  of 
Southern  California  and  the  magnificent  deciduous  orchards  of  the  north  occupy  land 
formerly  devoted  to  wheat  or  used  for  grazing  purposes.  The  world-renowned  Fresno 
raisin  vineyards  were  many  of  them  sheep-walks  in  other  days.  Climate  alone  made 
the  transformation  possible.  The  prune  orchards  of  Santa  Clara  Valley  are  of  recent 
production.  The  economic  value  of  our  climate  was  not  discovered  in  that  charming 
valley  until  her  land  owners  planted  trees  instead  of  wheat. 


106  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

But  a  country  that  can  do  all  these  things  has  no  limit,  except  such  as  the  conditions 
themselves  place  upon  it.  Vegetable  growing  and  market  gardening  belong  logically 
to  this  climate,  and  already  are  rapidly  developing.  The  rapid  improvement  in  and 
cheapening  of  transportation,  and  the  possibilities  of  refrigeration  as  an  aid  in  ship- 
ping, will  bring  this  wonderful  orchard  and  garden  of  America  to  the  very  doors, 
economically  speaking,  of  the  world's  consumers. 

It  would  seem  to  be  quite  superfluous  to  append  to  this  paper  tables  of  temperatures 
throughout  the  State.  The  reports  of  the  Agricultural  Department,  containing  the 
records  of  the  Weather  Bureau,  have  brought  to  the  public  attention  the  facts  in  great 
detail,  and  are  within  reach  of  all.  It  is  now  possible  to  know  the  exact  truth  as  to  all 
parts  of  the  State  from  entirely  reliable  data. 

The  purpose  of  this  article  is  to  satisfy  the  inquiry  generally  made,  What  are  the 
distinguishing  features  of  the  California  climate,  and  what  is  its  economic  value  com- 
pared with  other  climates  of  our  country?  If  I  have  reasonably  answered  this  inquiry 
I  have  done  all  that  was  asked  of  me. 

Sergeant  James  A.  Barwick,  of  the  United  States  Weather  Bureau,  has  for  several 
years  made  annual  reports  to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  upon  the  meteorology  and 
climatology  of  California.  These  reports  cover  all  parts  of  the  State  and  every  phase 
of  our  climate,  and  are  rich  in  data  and  generalizations.  I  have  drawn  from  these 
reports,  and  refer  to  them  as  containing  detailed  information  upon  every  possible 
question  that  may  be  asked  relating  to  California  climate. 


CLIMATE  AND  CLIMATIC  FEATURES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

By  James  A.  Barwick,  Observer  United  States  Weather  Bureau  and  Director  of  the  California 
Weather  Service. 

The  limit  of  space  assigned  to  this  subject  precludes  the  discussion  of  the  physical 
causes  of  the  climatic  features  of  California.  It  is  enough  to  state  the  facts,  leaving  to 
the  intending  settler  the  choice  of  a  home  in  either  of  the  climates  of  the  State. 

California  is  a  territory  of  such  magnificent  extent,  such  marvelous  wealth  of  soil, 
such  variety  and  grandeur  of  scenery,  such  perfection  of  climate,  and  is  so  free  from  all 
those  annoyances  that  disturb  humanity  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  that  the  Califor- 
nian  wonders  why  the  whole  people  of  the  East  do  not  at  once  migrate  hither. 

People  in  the  East  do  not  comprehend  the  extent  of  California,  to  say  nothing  of  its 
climate  and  productions.  California  is  more  than  a  State;  it  is  a  principality  in  itself. 
For  instance,  compare  the  area  in  square  miles  of  the  following  States  with  that  of 
California:  New  York,  49,170;  Pennsylvania,  45,215;  Michigan,  58,915;  Connecticut,  4,8 
total  area,  in  square  miles,  of  the  four  States,  158,290,  with  217  counties;  California's 
area,  in  square  miles,  158,360,  with  57  counties;  California's  excess  over  those  four 
States,  70  square  miles.  California  is  770  miles  long;  extreme  breadth,  330  miles;  least 
breadth,  150  miles,  with  a  coast-line  of  over  1,280  miles.  If  California  were  trans-  • 
planted  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  coast-line  would  reach  from  Boston,  IMassachusetts, 
to  Savannah,  Georgia. 

These  comparisons  illustrate  the  difficulty  and  almost  impossibility  of  giving  to 
Eastern  visitors  an  intelligent  idea  of  either  the  climatic  features  or  the  vast  resources 
of  California. 

The  latitude  of  Fort  Jones,  Siskiyou  County,  on  the  north,  is  42°,  being  the  same  as 
Boston,  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  San  Diego,  in  the  south,  is  in  latitude  32°,  the  same  as  > 
Savannah,  in  the  East.  The  mean  M'inter  and  summer  temperature  at  Savannah  is  53°  | 
and  81°,  while  San  Diego  boasts  of  a  mean  winter  and  summer  temperature  of  54°  and 
68°.  Fort  Jones  has  a  mean  summer  temperature  of  69°,  the  same  as  Boston;  the  latter's 
mean  winter  temperature  is  28°,  while  Fort  Jones— elevation,  3,000  feet  above  sea-level— 
has  a  mean  winter  temperature  of  34°— 6°  warmer  than  Boston.  Monterey's  mean 
winter  and  summer  temperature  is  52°  and  64°.  Richmond's  mean  winter  and  summer 
temperature  is  75°  and  37°.    Sacramento's  mean  winter  and  summer  temperature  is  49" 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCKS.  107 

and  74°,  as  against  33°  and  73°  at  Baltimore.  Mean  winter  and  summer  temperature  of 
San  Francisco,  51°  and  60°,  as  against  36°  and  70°  at  Washington,  I).  ( '.  Mean  winter  and 
summer  temperature  of  Los  Angeles,  &J°  and  70°,  as  against  48°  and  80°  at  Atlanta 
Cteorgia.  Santa  Barbara  has  a  mean  winter  and  summer  temperature  of  6.T  an<l  (w' 
as  against  43°  and  7(5°  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  The  places  named  in  tlie  lOa.st  and 
used  as  a  comparison  with  California  points,  arc  situated  on  the  same  lino  nf  latitude. 
In  some  corresponding  lines  of  latitude,  where  in  the  Kast  snow  would  cover  the  grouml, 
we  would  have  open,  mild  weather,  with  flowers  blooming  tlie  winter  through. 

There  is  no  State  in  the  Union,  no  country  upon  the  continent,  no  section  of  country 
in  any  State,  nor  geographical  division  of  the  continent,  that  can  compare  with  Califor- 
nia in  salubrity  of  climate,  healthfulness,  variety  of  pleasing  sliadings  of  climate,  or 
attractive  and  health-giving  summer  and  winter  resorts.  In  December  we  have  the  sun 
shining  a  great  number  of  days;  the  air  is  balmy,  with  people  upon  the  streets  in  attire 
that  could  be  worn  in  the  East  only  in  early  summer  or  autumn.  Winter  in  California 
is  but  summer  without  its  hot  days. 

In  all  of  California,  and  particularly  along  the  coast,  the  winters  are  comparatively 
warm  and  the  summers  comparatively  cool.  This  is  due  to  the  prevailing  winds,  which 
in  winter  come  from  the  south  and  in  summer  from  the  north.  The  climate  of 
California  varies  according  to  the  longitude  and  altitude.  Two  factors  enter  into  the 
formation  of  our  climate:  the  Pacific  Ocean,  from  which  the  winds  coming  through 
the  Golden  Gate  bring  moisture,  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  which  cause  the 
precipitation  of  the  moisture. 

The  isothermal  lines  are,  as  they  near  the  coast,  so  deflected  as  to  run  north  and 
south,  and  mark  out  three  climatic  belts,  which  are  the  coast,  valley,  and  mountain. 
The  valley  belt,  beyond  the  Coast  Range,  commencing  with  Shasta  Valley  on  the  north, 
extends  down  through  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Valleys,  into  the  arid  plains  of 
the  Mojave  and  Colorado  Deserts;  while  the  mountain  includes  the  Sierra  Nevada 
beyond.  Rainless  summers  characterize  all  these  regions.  To  these  tliree  climates  may 
be  added  a  fourth,  to  wit:  Southern  California,  which  includes  so  much  of  California  as 
lies  south  of  the  junction  of  the  Coast  Range  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains. 

COAST  CLIMATE. 

This  climate  is  confined  to  that  portion  of  California  which  "looks  out  upon  the 
sea"  from  Point  Conception,  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  to  the  north  line  of  the  State. 
The  annual  temperature  ranges  from  45°  to  60°.  The  climate  puts  one  into  an  agreeable 
state  of  invigoration,  and  there  is  a  sense  of  buoyancy  and  vitality  experienced  in  no 
other  climate. 

The  therapeutical  effect  of  this  climate,  says  Dr.  .lohn  W.  Robertson,  is  essentially 
tonic,  and  suited  only  to  certain  classes  of  invalids.  That  its  healthfulness  is  mainly 
due  to  the  wind  cannot  be  doubted.  This  wind,  besides  possessing  moisture  and  cool- 
ness, is  surcharged  with  ozone,  and  much  of  its  influence  is  to  be  attributed  to  the 
oxidizing  power  of  this  agent.  Persons  coming  to  San  Francisco  from  the  interior 
valleys  or  the  East,  are,  at  first,  chilled  by  the  cool,  fog-bearing  wind,  but  this  chillness 
soon  gives  way  to  a  feeling  of  exaltation  and  well-being  that  is  almost  incapable  of 
being  understood  by  those  who  have  not  experienced  it. 

This  climate  is  susceptible  of  subdivision;  the  one  just  described  being  directly  on 
the  coast,  the  other  more  moderate,  but  of  the  same  type,  a  few  miles  inland  and  pro- 
tected by  the  foothills  from  the  full  force  of  the  breeze.  Such  valleys,  in  close  i>roximity 
to  San  Francisco,  are  the  Livermore,  Santa  Clara,  Napa,  and  Santa  Rosa  Valleys.  In 
summer  the  thermometer  may  register  75°  to  85°  at  midday,  but  such  heat  is  exceptional. 
The  mornings  and  afternoons  are  never  sultry;  during  the  winter  frosts  occur  but 
rarely,  and  snow  and  ice  are  unknown.  Still  farther  inland,  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
footliills,  there  is  a  region  which  should  attract  sanitarians  by  reason  of  its  therai)€Utic 
usefulness.  Volcanic  products  are  here  found  in  groat  abundance,  and  mineral  deposits 
are  frequent.  Water  trickling  through  these  becomes  impregnated  with  various  saitB, 
and,  emerging  as  springs,  gives  them  healing  qualities.  These  springs  are  really 
scattered  all  over  the  State.  Hundreds  are  found  throughout  the  Coast  Range;  but  it 
is  in  Central  California,  in  the  foothills,  that  they  abound. 


108  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES. 

CLIMATE   OF   THE   SACRAMENTO   AND   SAN   JOAQUIN   VALLEYS. 

The  Sacramento  Valley  and  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  may  be  said  to  be  one  valley, 
both  as  to  geological  and  climatic  features.  From  a  given  point  opposite  the  Golden 
Gate  the  heat  increases  as  we  go  either  north  or  south.  From  Redding,  in  the  northern 
end,  to  Bakersfield,  at  its  southern  end,  is  a  distance  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
The  mean  annual  average  temperature  of  Redding  is  64°,  with  an  average  annual  rainfall 
of  34.60  inches.  Bakersfield  has  a  mean  temperature  of  66°,  and  an  average  rainfall  of 
5.14  inches.  Sacramento's  mean  temperature  is  60°,  with  an  average  rainfall  of  19.53 
inches;  the  latter  place  being  about  midway  between  the  places  named  above. 

The  average  rainfall  of  the  Sacramento  Valley  ranges  from  34  inches  at  Redding,  to 
23  inches  at  Red  Bluff,  and  19.53  inches  at  Sacramento.  The  San  Joaquin  Valley  ranges 
from  13  inches  at  Stockton  to  9  inches  at  Fresno,  Delano  6.32  inches,  and  Bakersfield  5.14 
inches,  showing  a  rapid  falling  off  in  the  precipitation  of  moisture  in  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley  as  compared  with  that  in  the  Sacramento.  After  leaving  Bakersfield  the  rainfall 
naturally  increases  on  account  of  elevation  in  crossing  the  Tehachapi  range  of  mount- 
ains, it  being  nearly  12  inches  at  Tehachapi  and  down  to  5  inches  at  Mojave,  on  the 
southern  side  and  edge  of  the  desert. 

The  heat  of  these  valleys,  to  the  Eastern  visitor,  in  midsummer  days,  seems  oppress- 
ive, but  to  those  acclimated  presents  no  objection  to  continued  labor  in  open  air.  The 
dryness  of  the  atmosphere  produces  rapid  evaporation;  therefore,  laborers  in  the  vine- 
yards and  harvest  fields  are  cooled  by  the  rapid  evaporation  of  the  perspiration  from  the 
body,  which  in  the  Eastern  climate  cannot  take  place,  because  the  air  contains  so  mucli 
moisture  that  evaporation  takes  place  slowly,  a  condition  which  is  the  cause  of  the 
many  sunstrokes  to  persons  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  while  working,  and 
from  which  we  are  exempt. 

This  section  is  the  seat  of  the  great  cereal  industry  of  the  State,  but  the  equability  of 
the  climate  is  attested  by  the  growth  of  citrus  fruits  at  both  the  northern  and  southern 
ends  of  the  valleys.  Irrigation  in  the  San  Joaquin  may  in  time  modify  the  climate 
somewhat. 

THE    FOOTHILLS    OF    THE    SIERRA. 

The  foothills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  up  to  a  height  of  about  2,500  feet,  have 
apparently  the  same  temperature  as  places  in  the  valley  in  proximity  to  each  other. 
With  increased  elevation  there  is  an  increase  of  rainfall  over  those  places  in  the  valley. 
Sacramento,  with  an  elevation  of  35  feet,  has  an  annual  mean  temperature  of  60°,  and 
an  average  rainfall  of  19.53  inches,  while  Colfax,  with  an  elevation  of  2,421  feet,  has  an 
average  annual  temperature  of  60°,  and  an  average  annual  rainfall  of  44  inches.  This 
uniformity  of  temperature  and  increase  of  rainfall  appears  to  be  the  law  throughout 
the  whole  extent  of  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra,  with  this  variation  as  relates  to  tempera- 
ture, viz.:  as  latitude  is  decreased  the  temperature  of  the  valley  is  continued  to  a  greater 
elevation.  To  illustrate  approximately:  If  the  temperature  of  Redding  is  continued  up 
the  foothills  2,000  feet,  then  the  temperature  of  Sacramento  would  be  continued  up  to 
2,500  feet,  and  at  Bakersfield  up  to  3,000  feet.  The  difference  in  temperature  is  so  small 
that  the  character  of  the  vegetation  of  the  hills  at  each  end  of  the  valley  is  not  dis- 
similar. The  temperature  of  the  valley  prevails  up  the  Sierra  to  an  elevation  that 
equals  the  height  of  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains. 

Every  agricultural  product  that  can  be  grown  in  the  valleys,  including  the  semi- 
tropic  fruits,  can  be  grown  with  equal  facility  in  these  foothills.  These  lands  are  found 
to  have  all  the  requisites  for  the  successful  growth  of  orchards.  Fruit  trees  thrive 
better  upon  them  than  on  the  lands  of  the  valley. 

SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

At  Point  Conception,  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  the  Pacific  coast  trends  to  the  east. 
The  Coast  Range  of  mountains,  deflecting  to  the  east,  joins  the  southern  part  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  and  shuts  off  the  cold  and  northerly  winds  from  the  ocean. 
This  section,  with  the  exception  of  San  Bernardino  County,  has  a  wide  exposure  to  the 
sea.  The  rainfall  is  very  unevenly  distributed.  Los  Angeles  has  an  annual  average 
precipitation  of  18  inches,  San  Bernardino  17  inches,  Anaheim  12  inches,  Colton  and 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


109 


Riverside  10  inches,  San  Diego  between  9  and  10  inches,  Fallbrook  17  inches,  Santa  Bar- 
bara 16  inches,  decreasing  only  a  few  inches  after  getting;  west  of  the  nu)untains  of  San 
Diego  and  San  Bernardino  Counties.  The  coast  rainfall  is,  of  course,  greater  than  the 
interior,  except  at  San  Diego.  The  habitable  portion  of  Southern  California  receives 
but  a  trifle  less  rain  than  the  lower  Sacramento  \'alley,  and  more  than  the  .*^an  Joaquin 
Valley.  The  mean  temperature  of  the  principal  localities  of  Southern  California  is  as 
follows: 


Station. 

June,  July, 
.\ugust. 

December.  January, 
February. 

Los  Angeles 

6.3.3 
r,9.0 
65.5 

50.0- 
63.0 
49.0 

5ao 

SanDiegO-- 

San  Bernardino 

This  mild  and  genial  temperature  of  Southern  California  is  due  to  low  latitudes  and 
ocean  winds.  Southern  California  first  attracted  the  attention  of  sanitarians,  and  gave 
California  its  greatest  climatic  reputation.  The  climate  speaks  so  strongly  for  itself,  it 
is  so  mild  and  delightful,  that  the  most  caviling  cannot  tind  fault,  and  the  invalid 
susceptible  to  the  slightest  chill  utters  no  complaint. 


IN   GENERAL. 

California  has  but  recently  attracted  the  attention  of  sanitarians.  Thousands  of 
invalids  here  find  relief.  The  climate  is  beneficial  to  all  diseases  affected  by  change 
of  air.  Within  its  borders  are  to  be  found  the  altitude  of  the  Alps,  the  scenery  of 
Switzerland,  the  fruits  of  the  tropics,  numerous  mineral  springs  equal  in  value  to  and 
more  healthfully  situated  than  are  those  of  the  eastern  United  States  or  Europe,  the 
pure  air  of  the  Colorado  highlands,  and  the  winter  climate  of  Florida.  The  climate  of 
California  is  much  more  temperate  than  that  of  the  Eastern  States  situated  in  the  same 
latitude;  but  this  does  not  hold  true  of  Southern  California,  where  the  conditions  are 
reversed:  San  Diego,  in  the  same  latitude  as  Charleston,  is  8°  cooler.  The  mean  annual 
temperature  of  Santa  Barbara  is  60°,  San  Francisco  55°;  nor  does  it  fall  below  this  on 
the  northern  coast.  Crescent  City,  three  hundred  miles  north,  being  as  mild  as  San 
Francisco. 

California  can  boast  of  more  clear  days  than  any  known  country  in  the  world,  except 
some  portions  of  Arizona,  where  the  arid  and  cloudless  region  reigns  almost  supreme. 
The  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Valleys  have  an  average  number  of  clear  days, 
ranging  from  240  to  260,  and  Southern  California  has  from  225  to  270  clear  days.  The 
economic  value  of  the  climate  should  be  considered.  More  labor  can  be  performed  here 
within  a  given  time  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world;  the  summer  heat  does  not 
enervate,  while  the  distribution  of  the  winter  rains  through  four  months  of  the  year 
does  not  seriously  interfere  with  outdoor  life. 

'SoTE.— Thermal  Belt.— ^ir.  T.  C.  Judkins,  of  the  World's  Fair  Commission  of  Californhi,  In  an 
article  upon  the  climate  of  California,  says:  "There  Is  one  phase  of  Califoniia  cllmntoloKy,  so 
important  in  its  efiFects  upon  the  adaptability  of  different  locations  to  horticultural  proUuet.s,  that 
it  demands  special  treatment.  All  through  the  foothills  of  the  State  there  exists  the  so-called 
'Thermal  Belt.'  This  comprises  a  strip  of  laud,  circling  the  hills,  at  un  elevation  from  .TOO  to 
2,000  feet,  in  which,  notwithstanding  the  adjacent  and  lower  valleys  may  be  cold  and  frosty,  there 
is  no  frost,  or  certainly  not  enough  to  injure  the  tenderest  of  sub-tropical  fruits.  The  philosophy 
of  the  thermal  belt  is  easily  explained.  In  all  parts  of  the  country  frosts  are  mainly  restricted 
to  still  nights.  As  the  atmosphere  cools  off,  being  undisturbed  by  winds,  by  a  familiar  law  of 
atmospheric  distribution,  the  colder  stratum  gradually  but  surely  rolls  down  into  the  valleys, 
while  the  warm  air  of  the  valley  ascends.  A  difference  of  200  or  300  feet  m  elevation,  on  a  slill 
morning,  will  often  show  a  difference  of  8°  or  10°  in  temperature." 

This  thermal  belt  is  found  in  nearly  every  county,  but  is  most  distinctly  traced  for  a  longer  dis- 
tance along  the  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  In  this  belt  may  tje  found  the  best  citrus 
groves  of  the  south  and  accounts  for  the  flourishing  condition  of  citrus  groves  In  Tulare,  I'laoer, 
and  Butte  Counties  in  the  north.  Indeed,  as  far  north  as  Shasta  scattered  groups  of  orange  trees 
are  growing.— Editor. 


110  CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 

EDUCATIONAL    ADVANTAGES. 

By  W.  H.  V.  Raymond,  Editor  of  the  California  State  Text-Books. 

""What  opportunities  for  education?"  is  the  first  question  asked  by  an  enlightened 
householder,  when  seeking  a  residence.  It  is  the  object  of  this  article  to  answer  the 
question  for  California. 

IN   GENERAL. 

Before  entering  upon  particulars,  it  may  be  said,  first,  in  general,  that  the  educa- 
tional system  of  the  State  is  not  the  outgrowth  of  narrow  or  provincial  views,  but  a 
system  founded  in  the  beginning,  and  fashioned  to  the  present  time,  by  the  sturdiest 
and  most  enlightened  educational  sentiment  of  the  whole  country.  The  best  thought 
and  experience  of  New  England,  of  the  great  Middle  West,  and  of  the  South  have 
gone  richly  into  its  life  and  character.  The  foundation  of  an  incomparable  system  of 
primary  and  grammar  schools  was  early  laid  by  that  incarnate  enthusiasm  from  the 
Granite  Hills,  John  Swett,  a  national  name,  as  familiar  in  the  educational  circles  of 
Boston  as  in  those  of  San  Francisco,  where  its  owner  resides.  In  the  directing  and 
inspiring  personal  agencies  which  have  made  the  other  departments  of  the  California 
system  what  they  are,  the  State  has  been  equally  fortunate.  Higher  education,  as 
represented  in  the  State  University,  has  been  largely  shaped  by  the  classical  learning  of 
President  Martin  Kellogg,  from  Connecticut  and  Yale,  and  by  the  scientific  spirit  and 
eminent  scholarship  of  John  and  Joseph  Le  Conte,  from  the  University  of  Georgia, 
whose  original  researches  in  the  departments  of  physics  and  geology  have  given  to 
their  names  a  European  as  well  as  an  American  celebrity.  These  men  stood  reverently 
by  at  the  birth  of  university  education  in  California,  rocked  its  cradle  in  infancy,  and 
two  of  them  still  remain,  keeping  step  royally  with  its  vigorous  manhood.  In  recent 
years  Leland  Stanford,  Jr.,  University,  with  its  endowment  of  $20,000,000,  and  its  dis- 
tinguished President,  David  Starr  Jordan,  from  Indiana,  has  brought  to  this  department 
of  education  an  access  of  new  and  abounding  life. 

The  organization  and  conduct  of  the  State  Normal  Schools  have  fallen  upon  men 
equally  distinguished  and  equipped  for  their  work.  For  seventeen  years,  from  1873  to 
1890,  the  original  school  was  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Charles  H.  Allen,  whose  normal 
school  work  began  in  Pennsylvania,  widened  into  the  principalship  of  the  first  Normal 
School  of  Wisconsin,  and  culminated  in  his  distinguished  service  to  the  normal  school 
system  of  California.  In  1890  the  principalship  of  this  school  fell  upon  its  present 
head,  Charles  W.  Childs,  one  of  its  early  graduates,  a  successful  author,  and  a  man  of 
marked  ability.  Ira  More,  graduating  from  both  the  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  Normal  School 
and  Yale  College— his  whole  life  given  to  the  study  of  educational  science,  expanding 
in  Illinois  into  a  four  years'  professorship  in  the  State  Normal  School  of  that  State,  and 
in  Minnesota  into  a  seven  years'  principalship  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  St.  Cloud- 
has,  from  its  organization,  ably  directed  the  fortunes  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Los 
Angeles.  The  conscientious  and  successful  organizer  and  Principal  of  the  school  at 
Chico,  the  youngest  of  these  schools  in  California,  Edwin  T.  Pierce,  was  the  gift  of 
Union  College  and  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  New  York;  and  when  it  is  added 
that  the  present  chief  educational  officer  of  the  State,  Superintendent  James  W.  Ander- 
son, was  graduated  from  Jefferson  College,  Pennsj^vania,  and  has  risen  by  distinguished 
success  in  every  grade  of  work  from  primary  to  high  school,  as  teacher,  Principal,  and 
Superintendent,  it  will  be  seen  that  our  claim  to  a  share  in  the  best  educational  blood 
of  the  whole  country  is  no  idle  boast. 

IN   DETAIL. 

To  the  activities  of  these  men  and  their  efficient  associates,  California  is  indebted  for 
its  completed  system  of  free  public  education.  Among  the  individual  features  of  that 
system,  enumerated  below,  the  first  three  are  worthy  of  special  attention  as  vital  edu- 
cational agencies  unknown  either  in  form  or  equivalent  to  the  systems  of  other  States, 
so  far  as  the  writer's  knowledge  extends.  They  are  agencies  whose  value  is  instantly 
obvious,  and  which  are  of  the  first  importance  to  the  citizen,  present  and  prospective. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     R^:SOURCE9.  111 

1.  The  financial  provision  for  weak  districts.  This  is  such  that  nothing  but  the  stu- 
pidity and  indifference  of  District  Trustees  can  defeat  the  intent  of  the  hiw  to  maintain 
a  first-class  school  in  the  feeblest  district  of  the  State  for  at  least  eight  niontlis  of  the 
year.  The  citizen  in  the  poorest  district  of  the  remotest  county  is  assured  as  good 
facilities  for  the  education  of  his  children  in  the  primary  and  grammar  grades  as  the 
citizen  in  the  rich  and  thickly  settled  districts  just  outside  of  San  Francisco,  Sacra- 
mento, Oakland,  San  Jos^,  Los  Angeles,  or  other  centers  of  wealth  and  population. 
This  is  accomplished  by  the  State  law,  which  assures  to  the  smallest  district  of  the  State 
a  sum  not  less  than  $400,  to  be  used  exclusivehj  for  the  payment  of  teachers'  salaries; 
and  to  the  average  district,  whose  school  is  taught  by  one  teacher,  at  least  ifrjOO  is  assured 
for  the  same  purpose,  and  |500  is  also  assured  for  each  additional  teacher.  Any  local 
district  tax  that  may  be  levied  by  the  District  Trustees  is  in  addition  to  this.  The  pro- 
vision described  above  is  wholly  independent  of  the  action  of  District  Trustees  or  the 
citizens  of  a  district,  and,  as  will  be  seen,  provides  a  teacher  for  eight  months  in  the 
year,  at  a  salary  not  less  in  any  case  than  $50  per  month.  No  other  State  in  the  T'nion 
makes  a  like  provision.  The  result  is  what  might  be  expected.  The  common  district 
schools  of  the  State  are  taught  by  a  highly  intelligent,  active,  enterprising  body  of  men 
and  women.  So  marked  are  these  characteristics  in  the  teachers  of  the  State,  that  edu- 
cational lecturers  from  other  States  who  meet  them  in  teachers'  conventions  in  Califor- 
nia, uniformly  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  their  personal  bearing  aiul  cultured  address. 

2.  The  provision  for  academic  training  and  preparation  for  the  tno  great  universities 
of  the  State.  It  is  believed  that  in  no  other  State  is  this  provision  made  to  reach  students 
in  so  many  parts  of  the  State,  or  in  so  large  numbers.  As  in  other  enlightened  States, 
there  are  the  excellent  public  high  schools  of  the  large  cities  and  towns,  provided  for 
by  their  charters.  Of  these  there  are  twenty-five  with  standards  so  high  that  graduates 
from  them  are  admitted,  without  examination,  to  the  Universities.  Three  of  them  are 
in  San  Francisco,  and  one  in  each  of  the  following  cities  and  towns  of  tlie  State: 
Alameda,  Berkeley,  Fresno,  Los  Angeles,  IMartinez,  Marysville,  National  City,  Nevada 
City,  Oakland,  Pasadena,  Petaluma,  Riverside,  Sacramento,  Salinas,  San  Diego,  San 
Jos^,  San  Rafael,  Santa  Cruz,  Stockton,  Vallejo,  Ventura,  and  "Watsonville.  Other  town 
high  schools,  also,  are  of  good  rank. 

Under  this  head,  however,  it  is  sought  especially  to  emphasize  the  general  provision 
of  law  for  the  establishment  of  public  high  schools  to  connect  the  small  villages  and 
rural  districts  with  the  University.  This  is  done  by  the  organization  of  union  high 
school  districts.  Under  this  provision  eighteen  counties  have  established  high  schools, 
as  follows: 

Alameda  County.  3.  Los  Angeles  County,  3.  Siskiyou  County,  1. 

Butte  Countj'-,  2.  San  Bernardino  County,  2.      Solano  County,  3. 

Contra  Costa  County,  1.    San  Diego  County,  6.  Sonoma  County,  2. 

Del  Norte  County,  1.         San  Joaquin  County,  1.  Stanislaus  County,  1. 

El  Dorado  County,  1.         San  Luis  Obispo  Countj',  2.     Ventura  County,  2. 

Fresno  County,  2.  Santa  Barbara  County,  3.        Yolo  County,  I. 

Thus,  nearly  forty  public  high  schools  bring  to  the  very  doors,  it  may  be  said,  of  the 
tiller  of  field  and  farm,  the  small  shopkeeper,  and  the  mechanic  who  is  at  once  his  own 
contractor  and  his  own  journeyman,  either  a  generous  academic  training  or  a  prepara- 
tion for  university  studies.  These,  with  the  twenty-five  city  high  schools  accepted  by 
the  universities  as  preparatory  schools,  constitute,  it  is  believed,  a  provision  for  secontl- 
ary  education  without  precedent  in  any  State  of  equal  population. 

3.  The  compulsory  requirement  of  a  fixed  expenditure  of  money,  annually,  for  the 
support  of  a  district  library  is  a  third  educational  provision  found  only  in  California- 
This  insures  to  every  school  district  in  the  State  an  ample  and  attractive  collection  of 
good  books,  and  is  defeasible  only  by  the  ignorance,  indifference,  or  dishonesty  of  Dis- 
trict Trustees.  The  value  of  this  provision  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  The  number 
of  volumes  thus  accumulated  in  the  district  libraries  of  the  State  now  exceeds  half  a 
million. 

4.  The  preparation  and  publication  by  the  State  of  the  text-books  used  in  the  common 
schools  is  a  fourth  feature  peculiar  to  the  school  system  of  this  State.  The  economical 
aspect  of  this  feature  commends  it  warmly  to  the  people,  and  the  technical  excel lenco 
of  the  books  so  furnished,  in  both  matter  and  mechanical  construction,  is  equal  to  that 


112  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

of  other  like  standard  publications.  They  may  be  judged,  by  those  who  choose  to 
examine  them,  in  the  educational  department  of  the  California  Building  at  the  Colum- 
bian Exposition,  where  they  are  submitted  for  inspection. 

5.  Provision  for  the  training  of  teachers  for  the  public  schools,  while  not  peculiar  to 
California,  is  generous,  and  is  wisely  and  jealously  managed.  Three  normal  schools 
are  established  by  the  State,  and  one  by  the  city  of  San  Francisco.  The  oldest  of  these 
is  at  San  Jos4,  in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  about  fifty  miles  from  San  Francisco. 
Twenty-seven  instructors  are  employed  in  this  school,  and  the  attendance  of  students 
in  the  normal  classes  is  between  600  and  700.  The  buildings  and  equipments  for  the 
practice  school,  which  numbers  over  200  pupils,  are,  perhaps,  the  most  complete  in  the 
United  States.  The  second  of  these  schools  in  age  and  size  is  at  Los  Angeles,  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State.  In  this  school  the  instructors  number  14  and  the  students 
about  350.  Attached  is  an  elegantly  appointed  gymnasium;  and  additional  buildings 
are  in  process  of  construction.  The  practice  school  attendants  number  nearly  200.  The 
youngest  of  the  schools  is  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  at  Chico.  Instructors,  11; 
normal  students,  200.  The  practice  school  has  an  attendance  of  125.  This  school,  like 
the  others,  has  taken  high  rank  from  the  start. 

6.  Teachers^  Institutes,  though  maintained  in  some  other  States,  receive  in  California 
exceptional  encouragement.  Ample  funds  are  provided  for  maintaining  in  nearly  every 
county  of  the  State  one  week  of  instruction  and  discussion  relative  to  the  best  and 
most  fruitful  methods  of  class  teaching.  It  is  in  these  meetings  that  the  stranger  notes 
the  high  average  intelligence  of  the  teachers  of  the  State. 

7.  The  State  University,  for  the  higher  education  of  both  sexes,  is  located  at  Berkeley, 
opposite  the  entrance  to  the  Golden  Gate.  It  is  a  source  of  much  pride  for  the  rank  it 
has  taken  among  the  great  universities  of  the  country,  and  the  people  of  California 
have  richly  and  permanently  endowed  it.  It  consists  of  a  College  of  Letters,  with  three 
courses  leading,  respectively,  to  the  degree  of  A.B.,  B.L.,  and  Ph.B.;  a  College  of  Mining, 
a  College  of  Mechanics,  a  College  of  Agriculture,  a  College  of  Civil  Engineering,  and  a 
College  of  Chemistry,  each  leading  to  the  degree  of  B.S.  Besides  these  are  the  depart- 
ments of  Philosophy  and  Pedagogy,  at  Berkeley,  and  the  affiliated  Colleges  of  Law, 
INIedicine,  Pharmacy,  and  Dentistry,  located  in  San  Francisco,  and  the  Lick  Astronom- 
ical Observatory,  on  Mount  Hamilton.  The  professors,  instructors,  and  assistants  in 
these  colleges  number  217,  and  the  students  1,082.  University  extension  courses  have 
been  established  by  the  faculty  in  San  Francisco,  Oakland,  and  Los  Angeles. 

8.  The  general  administration  of  the  public  school  system  of  California,  thus  briefly 
sketched,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  following  officers:  School  District  Trustees,i  Town  and 
City  Boards  of  Education,i  Boards  of  Education  of  Union  High  Schools,^  County  Super- 
intendents,! County  Boards  of  Education,^  Boards  of  Normal  School  Trustees,*  Board 
of  Ptegents  of  the  State  University,*  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,!  and 
State  Board  of  Education.^ 

Except  in  a  few  of  the  smaller  counties,  the  entire  time  of  the  County  Superintend- 
ents is  employed  in  service  rendered  to  the  schools.  The  chief  duty  of  the  County 
Board  of  Education  consists  in  the  examination  and  certification  of  teachers.  The 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  in  addition  to  the  general  supervision  exer- 
cised by  him  over  the  schools,  and  the  collection  and  publication  of  detailed  information 
respecting  their  condition,  is  charged  with  the  apportionment  to  counties  of  State 
moneys  to  which  they  are  entitled;  the  judicial  function  of  interpreting  the  school  law 
when  required  by  the  administrative  officers  of  the  same;  and  is,  ex  officio,  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  State  University,  of  each  Board  of  Normal  School 
Trustees,  and  of  the  State  Board  of  Education.  The  State  Board  of  Education  consists 
of  the  Governor,  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  the  Principals  of  the 
State  Normal  Schools.  This  Board  adopts  general  rules  for  the  government  of  public 
schools;  grants  term  and  life  diplomas,  under  statutory  restrictions,  to  applicants  for 
the  same;  selects  the  official  educational  journal  of  the  State;  and  prepares,  or  directs 
the  preparation  of,  the  school  books  published  by  the  State. 

1.  Elected  by  the  people.  2.  Ex  officio. 

3.  Appointed  by  County  Supervisors,  except  the  County  Superintendent. 

4.  Partly  ex  officio,  and  partly  appointed  by  the  Governor. 


^'<'  1 


)i;a.m;k   I'iike  -I!kahi.n< 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOURCES.  113 

In  addition  to  the  advantages  offered  by  the  public  school  system  of  California  there 
are  numerous— 

9.  Private  colleges  and  academies.  At  the  head  of  all  these  is  the  great  Leland  Stan- 
ford, Jr.,  University,  at  Palo  Alto,  endowed  by  Senator  Leland  Stanford  with  120,000,000. 
This  institution,  like  the  State  University,  is  for  the  education  of  both  se.xes,  and,  as  in 
that  institution,  tuition  is  free.  Though  now  only  in  the  second  year  of  its  work,  it 
already  ranks  with  the  best.  It  has  a  faculty  of  78  professors  and  instructors,  and  a 
student  attendance  of  764,  of  whom  nearly  150  are  from  other  States.  Its  courses  of 
instruction  are  distributed  through  the  departments  of  the  Ancient  and  Modern 
Languages,  History  and  Political  Economy,  Mathematics,  the  Sciences,  Plulosoi)hy,  and 
Education.  Neither  Stanford  nor  the  State  University  has  a  preparatory  department- 
all  the  students  in  both  are  in  college  classes  proper. 

It  is  not  practicable  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the  private  colleges  and  academies  of 
the  State.  The  following  list  includes  the  more  important,  with  the  county  in  which 
they  are  located:  Alameda  County :  Berkeley  Gymnasium;  Boone's  University  School; 
Bowman's  Academy;  Gilson's  Normal  Training  School;  Head's,  Miss,  School;  Hopkins' 
Academy;  Livermore  College;  Mills  College;  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  (academy);  Sacred 
Heart  (academy);   St.  Joseph's  Academy;   St.  Joseph's  Institute;   St.   Mary's  College; 

St.  Mary's  Academy;  Snell's  Seminary;  Washington  College. Butte  County:   Chico 

Academy. Colusa  County:   Orland  Normal;   Pierce  Christian  College. Humboldt 

County:  Eureka  Academy;  Sisters  of  Mercy. Inyo  County:  Inyo  Academy. Lake 

County:  Lakeport  Academy. Los  Angeles  County:  Academy  of  the  Immaculate  Heart; 

Pomona  College;  St.  Hilda's  School;  St.  Mary's  Academy;  St.  Vincent's  ."^School;  Throop 
University. Marin  County:  San  Rafael  Female  College;  San  Rafael  School. Men- 
docino County:  Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart. Merced  County:  Merced  Academy. 

Napa  County:  Napa  College;  Oak  ^Mound  School. Nevada  County:  Sisters  of  Mercy 

Academy. Orange    County:     Dominican    Sigters'    School. Placer    County:    Sierra 

Normal    College. Sacramento    County:    Atkinson's    Sacramento    Business    College; 

Sacramento  Institute;   Sacramento  School  of  Design;    St.  Joseph's  Academy. San 

Bernardino   County:    Bellevue   Academy;    San    Bernardino    Academy;   Sisters  of    the 

Immaculate   Heart. San  Francisco   County:    Academy   of  Immaculate  Conception; 

Academy  of  St.  Rose;  Lake's,  Miss,  School  for  Girls;  Notre  Dame  Academy;  Presen- 
tation Convent;  Sacred  Heart  Academy;  Sacred  Heart  College;  St.  Ignatius  College; 
St.  Peter's  Academy;  St.  Rose's  Academy;  Trinity  School;  Van  Ness  Young  Ladies' 
Seminary;  West's,  Miss,  School;  Westminster  School. San  Joaquin  County:  St.  Ag- 
nes Academy;  St.  Patrick's  College;  San  Joaquin  Valley  College;    Stockton  Business 

College. San  Luis   Obispo   County:   Boarding  and    Day  School  of  the   Immaculate 

Heart. San  Mateo   County:   Belmont  School;   Bishop  Armitage  Orphanage;   Laurel 

Hall  College;   St.  Matthew's  Hall. Santa  Barbara  County:    Franciscan   College. 

Santa  Clara    County:    Academy   of   Notre  Dame;   St.  Joseph's    College;   Santa   Clara 

College;    Santa  Clara  Young  Ladies'  Boarding  School;  University  of  the  Pacific. • 

Santa  Cruz  County:  School  of  the  Holy  Cross. Solano  County:   Irma  Girls'  School; 

St.  Catherine's  Female  Academy;  St.  Vincent's  School;  Vacaville  Academy. Sonotna 

County:  Pacific  Methodist  College;  St.  Vincent's  Academy;  Santa  Rosa  Boys' ."^Jchool; 

Santa  Rosa  Business  College;  Santa  Rosa  Ladies'  College;  Santa  Rosa  Seminary. 

Tehama  County:    Academy  of  the  Sisters  of   Mercy. Tulare    County:   San   Joaquin 

Valley    Polytechnic    Institute. Yolo    County:     Hesperian    College;     Holy    Rosary 

Academy;    Woodland  Business  College. Tuba  County:  High  School  for  Boys;  Notre 

Dame  Academy. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Briefly  summarized,  then,  the  educational  advantages  of  California  are  seen— 

L  In  the  unprecedented  liberality  and  absolute  adequacy  of  its  provision  for  a  good 
free  school,  of  not  less  than  eight  months  annually,  in  every  district  of  the  State. 

2.  In  the  system  which  extends  high  school  facilities  to  every  comer  of  the  com- 
monwealth. 

3.  In  the  provision  for  excellent  public  school  libraries  in  every  district  of  the  State. 

4.  In  the  economical  and  admirable  provision  for  the  supply  of  text-books  to  the 
pupils  of  the  State. 


114  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

5.  In  its  generous  provision  for  the  instruction  and  training  of  teachers  in  Normal 
Schools  and  County  Institutes. 

6.  In  the  magnificent  and  richly  endowed  University  at  Berkeley,  which  crowns  its 
educational  structure. 

7.  In  the  completeness  of  its  machinery  for  the  effective  administration,  by  proper 
olBcers,  of  its  whole  system. 

8.  In  its  University  at  Palo  Alto,  made  great  by  private  endowment,  and  in  the  high 
character  and  large  numbers  of  its  remaining  colleges  and  private  schools. 

With  these  gifts  in  her  hands  our  beautiful  State  beckons  to  the  dwellers  in  her  sister 
States,  and  to  the  people  of  all  enlightened  nations,  inviting  them  to  settlement,  citizen- 
ship, and  home. 


AGRICULTURE. 

Contributed  by  T.  C.  Judkins,  of  World's  Fair  Commission. 

In  California  both  mining  and  agriculture  may  be  termed  discoveries.  It  was  a  dis- 
covery to  find  that  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars  in  gold  lay  treasured  in  the  hillsides 
and  riverbeds  of  the  State,  yet  it  was  also  a  discovery  to  find  that  the  apparently  barren 
and  arid  plains  possessed  soils  of  such  fertility  as  to  soon  cause  the  value  of  the  agri- 
cultural products  to  exceed  that  of  gold.  The  former  was  more  electrifying  in  its  effects 
on  the  world,  but  the  latter  resulted  in  a  series  of  surprises  and  victories  that  soon  raised 
California  to  the  rank  of  one  of  the  very  first  agricultural  States  of  the  Union. 

WHEAT  RAISING. 

Among  all  the  grains,  wheat  is  still  king.  The  total  acreage  seeded  to  wheat  in  the 
State  for  1892  is  estimated  at  3,000,000  acres,  and  the  total  yield,  according  to  the  official 
report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington,  at  39,157,000  bushels,  valued  at 
$26,626,000.  According  to  the  census  of  1890,  California  ranked  fourth  as  a  wheat-pro- 
ducing State,  being  outranked  by  Dakota  with  40,411,000  bushels,  Minnesota  with  38,356,- 
000,  and  Ohio  with  29,984,000.  California's  reported  yield  that  year  was  29,121,000  bushels 
(less  than  it  really  was),  yet  this  is  only  about  one  half  of  the  largest  wheat  crop  grown 
in  the  State,  which,  in  1880,  amounted  to  56,916,000  bushels. 

For  1892,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  reports  that,  in  the  production  of  wheat, 
California  ranked  fourth  in  area,  second  in  value  of  product,  and  first  in  price  per  bushel 

The  average  annual  yield  of  this  State,  for  the  past  ten  years,  has  been  as  follows: 
Bushels.  Bushels. 

1883  33,500,000        1888  - 31,073,000 

1884  48,050,000        1889. 41,958,000 

1885  25,296,000        1890...- 31,482,000 

1886  35,657,000        1891 35,195,000 

1887--I- 28,659,000        1892 39,157,000 

The  best  California  wheat  excels  in  dryness,  whiteness  of  color,  and  thinness  of  skin; 
yet,  owing  to  the  difference  in  soil  and  climate,  the  quality  of  wheat  differs  greatly  in 
different  portions  of  the  State.  The  interior  counties  produce  white  wheats,  more  starch 
and  less  gluten,  while  the  coast  counties  run  to  amber  wheat— strong,  but  not  so  perfect 
in  the  color  of  its  flour.  The  hard  wheat,  known  as  "Sonora,"  is  chiefly  grown  in  the 
upper  San  Joaquin  Valley;  Australian  wheat  in  the  coast  counties.  "Chili"  wheat  is 
raised  chiefly  in  the  northern  counties  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  and  along  the  extreme 
southern  coast.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Los  Angeles,  White  Russian  and  Defiance  are 
the  favorite  varieties.  "  The  Pride  of  Butte  "  and  "  Club  "  are  grown  in  the  Sacramento 
Valley  and  other  rich  valley  lands.  The  average  price  of  wheat  at  tide  water,  for  the 
past  ten  years,  has  been  $1  47  per  cental,  or  about  88  cents  a  bushel.  This  figure  assures 
the  producer  a  fair  margin  of  profit. 

Taken  as  an  average,  farms  in  California  are  larger  than  those  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  many  of  them  containing  from  5,000  to  10,000  acres  and  upwards.  These 
farms  are  gradually  being  reduced  in  area.    Nearly  all  the  wheat  not  required  for  home 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RRSOURCES.  116 

consumption  is  shipped  to  European  markets,  about  one  sovenlli  of  the  product  boinR 
manufactured  into  flour  before  shipment.  Of  the  total  tonnage  that  visits  the  jwrt  of 
San  Francisco  about  50  per  cent  is  required  for  wheat. 

The  export  trade  in  both  flour  and  wheat  is  increasing,  much  of  the  flour  being  con- 
signed to  Japan  and  China.  During  the  year  ending  June  30,  1892,  the  exports  of  wlieat 
from  California  amounted  to  21,550,000  bushels,  valued  at  ^21,843,000;  and  of  flour,  1,055,- 
000  barrels,  valued  at  $5,194,000,  a  barrel  of  (lour  being  taken  as  an  equivalent  of  200 
pounds  of  wheat.  Of  the  wheat  exported  210,660  bushels  were  shipped  from  f^an  Diego 
and  32,500  bushels  from  San  Pedro,  the  balance  going  direct  from  San  Francisco. 

There  are  so  many  different  soils  and  climates  in  California  that  it  seems  impossible 
that  there  should  ever  be  what  would  approximate  an  entire  failure  of  the  wheat  crop. 
After  wet  winters  the  dry  lands  and  hills  produce  the  best  crops,  and  in  dry  seasons  the 
low,  moist  lands  take  the  lead.  In  the  great  wheat-producing  districts  it  is  estimated 
that  the  absence  of  rain  during  the  harvest  period  is  equal  to  25  per  cent  advantage  to 
the  California  farmer  over  his  Eastern  competitor.  II.  M.  Lallue,  a  conservative  agri- 
culturist of  Sacramento,  states  that  by  the  use  of  the  combined  harvester,  which  cuts, 
threshes,  and  sacks  the  grain  at  the  same  time,  we  have  been  enabled  to  reduce  the  cost 
of  harvesting,  threshing,  and  cleaning  60  per  cent  of  what  it  costs  in  other  countries. 
Joseph  Cone,  another  large  wheat  grower  in  the  Sacramento  Valley,  states  that  with  the 
improved  machinery  now  in  use,  the  result  of  cutting,  threshing,  and  sacking  is  seven 
and  one  half  acres  a  day  for  each  man  employed,  which  is  a  very  much  higher  per  cent 
than  in  any  other  wheat-raising  countrj'.  L.  U.  Shippee,  of  Stockton,  an  experienced 
wheat  grower,  says:  "  First,  we  have  a  climate  that  is  wonderfully  adapted  for  the  pro- 
duction of  wheat.  Second,  our  lands  are  level,  and  are  cultivated  by  large  gang-plows, 
from  two  to  eight  in  a  gang,  and  handled  by  one  man.  Third,  the  machinery  used 
enables  the  wheat  grower  to  harvest  his  crop  at  less  than  half  what  it  costs  in  any  other 
State.  Fourth,  we  have  no  rains  in  the  summer  to  interfere;  we  begin  harvesting  in 
June  and  cease  in  October,  and  are  not  compelled  to  take  the  grain  out  of  the  field  until 
the  harvest  season  is  over.    No  other  portion  of  the  wheat-producing  zones  can  do  this." 

Other  advantages  may  be  thus  enumerated.  Owing  to  the  mildness  of  the  winters 
wheat  can  be  sown  at  any  time  from  the  first  of  November  to  the  first  of  February,  or 
even  March.  Barns  are  not  used  for  the  storage  of  grain,  nor  are  they  necessary.  In 
the  great  valleys  of  the  State  a  stringent  no-fence  law  exists,  and  the  severe  tax  of 
building  miles  of  fence  for  protection  of  grain  is  entirely  removed.  Wheat  lands  are 
generally  level;  the  soil  is  rich,  readily  worked,  and  is  not  easily  exhausted.  A  new- 
comer can  readily  rent  land  on  payment  to  the  owner  of  from  one  fifth  to  one  third  of 
the  crop.  The  yield  will  vary  according  to  location  and  soil.  On  the  rich  river  bottom 
lands,  the  yield  is  about  40  bushels  per  acre.  In  the  Sacramento  Valley  20  to  30  bushels 
is  considered  a  fair  crop,  while  in  lighter  soils  that  are  easily  cultivated,  and  especially 
those  in  hot  and  comparatively  dry  districts,  the  yield  will  vary  from  10  to  20  bushels. 

The  farming  of  the  large  wheat  districts  of  California  forms  a  beautiful  picture. 
From  8-horse  to  10-horse  teams  are  attached  to  gang  plows,  the  average  being  about  six 
S-inch  plows  for  an  8-horse  team.  From  two  to  five  such  teams  then  follow  each  other, 
each  team  being  handled  by  only  one  man,  and  each  will  plow  from  6  to  9  acres  a  day. 
In  lighter  soils,  and  for  spring  sowing,  a  seeder  and  harrow  is  often  attached  to  the  gang 
plow  and  the  grain  plowed  under  the  ground,  being  then  somewhat  leveled  by  the 
harrow  or  drag.  The  field  receives  no  further  attention  until  the  harvest  period.  The 
combined  harvester  cuts  a  swath  from  16  to  30  or  40  feet  wide,  requiring  from  20  to  30 
mules  or  horses,  or  a  traction  engine  to  draw  it.  Four  men  usually  constitute  a  crew. 
From  2  to  2K  acres  for  every  foot  of  width  cut,  or  from  35  to  nearly  100  acres  a  day,  are 
harvested. 

Taking  all  conditions  into  consideration,  wheat  farming  in  California  should  form  an 
industry  conducive  to  health  and  contentment,  and  when  carried  on  from  year  to  year, 
productive  of  large  average  profits. 

BARLEY. 

California  produces  more  barley  yearly  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union,  and  one 
fourth  of  the  total  amount  raised  in  the  United  States.  This  State  and  New  York 
combined  produce  one  half  of  the  barley  crop  of  the  country. 


116  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

The  average  barley  crop  of  California  is  16,000,000  bushels,  but  the  crop  of  1892  is 
estimated  at  only  12,333,000  bushels.  It  is  difficult  to  state  the  total  yield,  because  barley 
is  used  as  a  food  for  horses,  mules,  and  hogs  to  the  almost  entire  exclusion  of  other 
grains.  The  average  yield  of  16,000,000  bushels  is  based  chiefly  on  the  amount  handled 
at  San  Francisco,  and  other  seaports  in  the  State,  together  with  the  quantity  used  in 
brewing. 

The  soil  and  climate  of  California  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  barley,  the 
average  yield  being  30  to  35  bushels  per  acre.  The  seed  and  harvest  seasons  are  about 
the  same  as  those  for  wheat.  Volunteer  crops  in  California  are  said  to  produce  larger 
yields  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  the  yield  for  barley  exceeding  that  for  any 
other  grain. 

The  largest  barley-producing  county  in  the  State  is  San  Joaquin;  San  Bernardino 
ranking  second,  Merced  third,  and  Contra  Costa  fourth.  The  entire  San  Joaquin  Valley 
is  well  adapted  to  barley,  as  are  also  the  counties  south  of  the  Tehachapi  range.  The 
counties  neighboring  San  Francisco  Bay  and  those  adjacent  to  the  ocean  are  all  large 
producers  of  barley,  the  humidity  of  the  atmosphere  of  these  sections,  which  i» 
occasionally  detrimental  to  wheat  in  the  way  of  rust,  proving  beneficial  to  the  growth 
of  barley. 

The  Chevalier,  or  bald  barley,  is  the  favorite  variety  in  the  bay  and  coast  sectionSj 
but  elsewhere,  including  the  southern  counties  of  the  State,  the  ordinary  bearded  grain 
is  almost  exclusively  grown.  The  bald  barley  possesses  superior  brewing  qualities,  the 
demand  for  this  purpose  from  other  parts  of  the  world  being  large  and  constantly  on 
the  increase. 

The  exports  for  the  season  of  1891-2  are  given  by  the  San  Francisco  Produce  Exchange 
at  1,882,360  bushels.  A  very  large  acreage  seeded  to  barley  is  yearly  cut  for  grain  hay, 
as  barley  liay  makes  a  superior  ration  for  working  horses. 

The  average  price  for  the  season  of  1891-2  was  about  63  cents  a  bushel  at  tide  water. 
At  this  price,  and  from  the  fact  that  taking  season  after  season  barley  is  considered  a 
more  certain  crop  than  wheat,  it  can  safely  be  expected  to  return  a  handsome  profit  to 
the  producer. 

OATS  AND  RYE. 

The  annual  yield  of  oats  and  rye  in  California  is  small  compared  with  that  of  the 
leading  cereals,  but  the  quality  of  these  grains  is  excellent,  and  there  is  a  large  area 
in  the  State  well  adapted  to  their  growth.  The  acreage  devoted  to  oats  is  gradually 
increasing  in  the  northern  counties.  The  weight  of  this  cereal  is  greater  than  in  the 
Eastern  States. 

During  the  crop  season  ending  June  30,  1892,  the  receipts  at  San  Francisco 
amounted  to  1,643,000  bushels  of  oats  and  234,340  bushels  of  rye.  The  standard  of 
measurement  for  grain  is  by  the  hundred  pounds,  or  centals  instead  of  bushels,  but  aa- 
the  bushel  is  the  more  common  standard  in  other  States,  that  measurement  is  adopted 
in  this  article. 

INDIAN   AND   EGYPTIAN   CORN. 

The  yearly  production  of  corn  is  5,000,000  to  6,000,000  bushels.  California  consumea- 
more  corn  than  she  produces.  Probably  three  fourths  of  the  corn  crop  is  raised  in  the 
southern  counties  of  the  State,  where  it  is  produced  without  irrigation.  In  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley  excellent  crops  are  raised,  but  generally  on  irrigated  lands.  Yields  of 
60  to  125  bushels  to  the  acre  are  not  infrequent,  the  ears  being  large  and  regular,  the 
kernels  deep  and  plump,  and  the  stalks  often  reaching  a  height  of  20  feet.  The  price  of  I 
(,^alifornia  corn  is  nearly  twice  as  great  as  that  of  Eastern  corn.  The  average  price  here^ 
is  about  61  cents,  while  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  it  averages  from  30  to  35  cents. 

Egyptian  corn  is  largely  raised  in  California  as  a  fodder  plant,  its  grain  being  used  in  i 
fattening  cattle,  hogs,  chickens,  etc.,  while  it  is  eaten  by  some  families  in  the  place  of  I 
rice.  Irrigation  is  generally  required  for  its  growth.  Both  this  and  Indian  corn  arc 
often  planted  after  the  barley  crop  is  cut  for  hay,  then  when  the  corn  is  harvested  barley  ' 
is  again  planted.  In  this  way  many  farmers  secure  two  different  crops  a  year,  thus 
adding  largely  to  their  profits  and  with  no  apparent  exhaustion  of  the  land.  Egyptian 
com  is  chiefly  raised  in  Kern,  Tulare,  and  Fresno  Counties. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     RESOURCES.  117 


THE    HORTICULTURAL    INDUSTRY. 

By  B.  M.  Lelong,  President  of  the  State  Horticultural  Society,  Secretary  of  the  Stale  Board  of 
Horticulture,  and  Chief  Horticultural  Onicer. 

Horticulture  in  California  was  practically  begun  in  1767,  during  the  establishment  of 
the  Missions  by  the  Franciscans,  who  seemed  to  be  far-seeing,  for  they  brought  seeds 
and  cuttings  of  fruits,  which  were  planted  and  throve  abundantly.  In  179U  tliere  were 
growing  at  the  different  Missions  about  5,0(X)  trees,  and  these  consisted  of  apples,  pears, 
oranges,  limes,  lemons,  grapes,  and  olives— all  seedlings.  This,  of  course,  is  a  very  small 
number,  but  those  trees  play  an  important  part  in  the  horticultural  advancement  of 
the  State,  as  they  proved  the  possibilities  in  fruit  culture. 

In  1812  and  in  1830  several  small  orchards  of  mixed  fruits  were  planted  in  Sonoma 
County,  and  also  in  Yolo  and  Los  Angeles  C^ounties  in  1841  and  in  181,5. 

Fruit  culture  was  incidental.  That  it  would  ever  become  the  chief  industry  of  a 
great  commonwealth  was  not  then  dreamed  possible.  In  1840,  when  the  gold  fever 
broke  out,  the  majority  of  those  who  came  here  had  their  thoughts  upon  nothing  but 
mining.  True,  a  few  men,  perhaps  not  quite  so  adventurous  as  the  others,  or  not  so 
impatient  for  immediate  gain,  got  possession  of  some  of  those  orchards,  took  reason- 
able care  of  them,  and  afterwards  found  that  with  fruit  in  demand  at  high  prices,  they, 
too,  had  a  "mine."  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  fruit  era,  and  the  last  twenty  years 
have  wrought  a  miracle  upon  the  face  of  our  land.  Many  of  those  old  orchards  which 
were  the  commencement  of  the  fruit  industry  as  a  business,  exist  to-day. 

There  were,  of  course,  many  difficulties  that  beset  its  early  history.  These  were 
overcome,  and  at  last  horticulture,  established  upon  a  secure  footing,  made  such  rapid 
strides,  that  in  a  few  years  California  rose  from  an  insignificant  place  among  the  fruit- 
producing  States  of  the  Union  to  become  the  orchard  of  the  United  States. 

The  demand  for  fruit  of  all  kinds  has  since  that  time  continually  increased  and 
Bpread,  until  to-day  the  orchard  industry  of  our  State  leads  all  others,  and  California 
ranks  first  among  the  fruit  States  of  the  Union.  Our  fruits  to-day,  in  various  shapes, 
green,  dried,  canned,  preserved,  and  manufactured  into  jellies,  raisins,  wines,  and 
brandies,  are  shipped  to  every  part  of  the  world. 

When  people  reflect  upon  the  wonderful  growth  of  population  in  the  United  States, 
that  we  are  nearly  doubling  our  numbers  every  twenty  years,  and  that  in  a  single  century, 
if  this  ratio  of  increase  should  be  maintained,  our  country  would  have  a  population 
of  1,000,000,000  persons,  or  a  population  equal  to  two  thirds  that  of  the  globe,  and  when 
they  remember  that  the  science  of  the  age  has  banished  pestilence,  and  that  the  human- 
ity of  the  age  is  fast  vetoing  war,  they  will  see  that  a  failure  of  the  supply  of  food  is  the 
only  limiting  condition  to  this  expansion  of  our  numbers.  When  we  hear  tlie  fruit 
growers  express  a  fear  that  we  are  growing,  or  about  to  grow,  a  greater  quantity  of 
wholesome  fruits,  more  nutritious  nuts,  and  more  human  food  generally,  than  tliere  will 
ever  be  any  market  for,  let  them  ponder  the  facts  of  the  census.  Tlie  future  that  their 
children  will  see  will  make  greater  demands  upon  tlie  resources  of  the  horticulturist. 
Where  there  is  now  a  hundred  pounds  of  fruit  grown,  a  thousand  will  be  called  for. 
It  does  not  take  a  prophet's  vision  to  see  the  teeming  millions  witli  which  their  grand- 
children will  mingle,  pressing  eagerly  on  to  occupy  every  acre  of  ground  in  all  this  vast 
continent.  All  the  available  land  suitable  for  horticulture  that  science  of  man  can 
bring  under  cultivation  will  be  needed. 

FRUITS   GROWN,  PROFITS   REALIZED,  ACREAGE,  ETC. 

The  Apple  does  phenomenally  well  in  California,  and  is  the  standard  crop  along  the 
coast  where  the  temperature  is  not  too  high,  in  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra  and  tiie  Coast 
Range,  and  in  the  higher  mountain  counties.  The  fruit  produced  cannot  be  surpas.sed 
anywhere.  To  those  having  good  apple  lands  adjacent  to  means  of  transportation  to 
the  centers  of  demand,  the  apple  has  proved  a  remarkably  profitable  crop.  There  arc 
many  thousands  of  acres  of  virgin  land  in  the  valleys  and  in  the  mountains  where 
the  apple  can  be  grown  to  perfection— remarkable  for  beauty  of  appearance,  flavor, 
size,  and  keeping  qualities.    In  a  very  large  part  of  the  State  the  apple  is  the  principal 


118  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

fruit  grown,  and  there  are  now  19,527  acres  devoted  to  its  culture;  of  these  13,751  are 
in  bearing.  The  apple  crop  finds  its  market  in  San  Francisco  and  other  counties  of 
the  State,  and  is  also  shipped  to  the  north  and  Eastern  States  and  Australia. 

The  Peach  and  Nectarine  thrive  best  in  the  higher  soils  of  our  warm  valleys  and 
lower  foothills.  They  give  a  light  crop  the  second  year  after  planting,  and  good  crops 
thereafter.  The  peach  is  grown  very  extensively,  and  handsome  profits  are  realized 
from  its  culture.  The  fruit  is  sought  for  canning  and  drying  purposes,  and  is  shipped 
both  green  and  dried  to  the  Eastern  States,  and  also  exported  to  foreign  markets. 
There  are  at  present  54,827  acres  devoted  to  peach  culture,  of  wliich  33,791  acres  are  in 
bearing,  and  1,080  acres  in  nectarines.  The  fruit  is  purchased  at  the  canneries  and  driers 
for  from  $20  to  $40  per  ton.  The  dried  product  sells,  peeled,  at  from  10  to  20  cents  per 
pound,  and  unpeeled  at  from  7  to  12  cents. 

The  peach  is  both  the  favorite  and  the  leading  deciduous  fruit  in  California.  This 
State  possesses  more  favorable  advantages  for  peach  growing  than  any  other  State  in  the 
Union.  The  fruit  ripens  earlier,  is  large  in  size,  of  superior  flavor,  and  the  tree  begins 
to  yield  profitable  returns  as  early  as  the  second  year  after  planting.  Another  great 
advantage  in  California  is  the  entire  exemption  of  the  fruit  from  the  diseases  prevalent 
throughout  the  East,  known  as  the  "peach  yellows  "and  the  "peach  rosette,"  which 
have  played  such  deadly  havoc  among  the  peach  orchards  there.  Frosts  never  affect 
the  crop  so  as  to  cause  a  failure.  The  tree  is  long  lived,  and  produces  phenomenally 
large  and  regular  crops.  Another  great  advantage  in  peach  culture  is  the  naturally  dry 
climate  during  the  ripening  season,  which  is  advantageous  in  fruit  drying,  and  for  this 
reason  no  artificial  heat  is  required.  The  ripening  season  is  longer  in  California  than 
elsewhere,  being  from  May  to  December.  Besides  the  large  shipments  made  East,  large 
quantities  of  peaches  are  canned  and  dried  yearly.  Only  a  few  years  since  the  shipment 
of  ripe  peaches  to  the  East  was  deemed  a  hazardous  undertaking;  now  the  business  of 
shipping  green  fruit  East  from  California  has  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  more 
than  2,500  carloads  were  shipped  to  the  Eastern  States  during  1892.  Besides  this,  shii>- 
ments  were  made  of  ripe  fruit  in  refrigerator  cars  over  8,000  miles  of  land  and  3,000  miles 
of  sea  to  London  and  Liverpool.  Over  400  tons,  requiring  nine  special  trains,  reached 
foreign  markets  last  year.  Inquiries  from  Germany,  as  well  as  from  other  European 
countries,  are  coming  in,  and  there  is  now  a  reasonable  probability  that  each  following 
year  these  new  markets  will  demand  a  larger  line  of  California  fruits. 

The  Pear  seems  to  adapt  itself  to  diversity  of  soil,  climate,  and  exposure  more  readily 
than  most  other  fruits.  It  therefore  grows  to  perfection  over  a  much  wider  range  of  the 
State.  Pear  culture  is  being  rapidly  enlarged,  and  is  a  profitable  one  to  pursue.  Good 
shipping  pears  give  splendid  returns,  as  do  also  varieties  for  canning  and  drying. 
There  are  at  present  23,442  acres  in  pears;  of  these  14,368  are  in  bearing.  Pears  sell  for 
shipping,  at  from  60  cents  to  $1  per  box  of  42  pounds;  for  canning,  at  from  $30  to  $40  per 
ton;  the  dried  product  sells  for  from  7  to  15  cents  per  pound. 

The  Apricot  is  one  of  the  choicest  of  fruits  grown,  and  in  no  State  of  the  Union  does 
it  flourish  so  well  or  yield  such  early  returns  as  it  does  in  California,  The  culture  of 
this  favorite  fruit  in  the  United  States  is  entirely  limited  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  Cali- 
fornia in  particular.  In  the  cultivation  of  most  fruits  California  is  forced  to  compete 
with  other  portions  of  the  Union,  but  apricot  growers  have  the  world  for  a  market. 
There  are  30,025  acres  in  apricots  in  the  State— 19,831  in  bearing.  Apricots  sell  at  the 
canneries  and  driers  for  from  $30  to  $40  per  ton;  the  dried  product  sells  at  from  7  to  18 
cents  per  pound. 

The  Quince  produces  abundantly  in  most  every  section  of  the  State  and  does  well 
wherever  the  apple  and  pear  are  grown.  The  fruit  reaches  enormous  size  and  is  of  the 
finest  quality.  It  meets  with  ready  sale  and  is  manufactured  into  jellies,  etc.  There  are 
only  192  acres  planted,  of  which  150  acres  are  in  bearing. 

The  Cherry  is  a  favorite  fruit  in  the  different  portions  of  the  State  which  are 
adapted  to  the  fruit.  It  makes  a  fine  growth  and  bears  abundant  crops.  California 
cherries  are  remarkable  for  their  size,  flavor,  and  beauty  of  appearance.  The  cherry 
crop  of  California  aggregates  a  very  large  amount,  and  has  always  been  found  a 
remunerative  crop  under  favorable  conditions.  It  finds  a  ready  market  within  the 
State,  especially  the  earlier  kinds.  The  bulk,  however,  is  shipped  East,  and  brings  high 
prices.    Early  cherries  bring  extraordinary  prices,  and  the  later  kinds  from  4  to  8  cents 


CALIFORNIA     AND     UEH     UKSOURCES.  119 

per  pound,  for  shipping  and  canning.  Wc  have  here  growing  the  largest  cherry 
orchards  in  the  United  States,  and  also  the  largest  cherrj'  tree  in  the  world.  This  tri-o 
was  planted  in  1853,  and  is  10  feet  in  circumference  and  over  80  in  height.  In  IHitl  it 
yielded  3,000  pounds  of  choice  fruit.  There  are  6,729  acres  planted  to  cherries  in  the 
State;  of  these  there  are  4,563  acres  in  bearing. 

The  Fig  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  cultivated  fruits  on  record.  It  grows  everywhere 
in  the  State,  but  most  luxuriantly  in  the  wanner  regions.  Many  line  varieties  have 
been  introduced  of  late,  and  improved  methods  of  handling  have  been  discovered. 
There  are  now  5,231  acres  planted  to  the  lig;  of  these  2,553  are  in  bearing.  The  proper 
process  for  its  curing  has  been  discovered,  and  it  is  now  put  up  in  a  most  attractive 
manner.  In  1889  the  first  carload  of  dried  figs  was  exported,  which  sold  in  New  York 
at  high  prices,  fully  two  months  before  the  imported  fig  reached  our  shores. 

The  Olive  is  very  widely  grown,  and  almost  the  entire  State  seems  well  adapted  to  its 
culture— the  higher  parts  above  2,000  feet  of  the  Sierra  range  and  the  lowlands  near  the 
ocean  alone  excepted.  The  industry  is,  as  yet,  not  very  extensively  developed,  but 
bearing  areas  can  be  found  in  almost  every  county  in  the  State,  and  all  bid  fair  to 
become  paying  investments.  There  is  every  prospect  that  it  will  soon  become  a  very 
important  industry.  There  are  now  7,997  acres  devoted  to  olive  culture,  of  which  2,K83 
are  in  bearing.  In  1891  there  were  11,200  gallons  of  olive  oil  i>roduced,  which  found  a 
ready  market  at  from  $10  to  $12  per  case  of  one  dozen  quart  bottles.  About  50,000 
gallons  of  ripe  olives  were  made  into  pickles,  and  sold  readily  at  from  60  cents  to  $1  50 
per  gallon. 

According  to  official  reports  the  importations  of  olive  oil  were  as  follows:  In  1881, 
384,413  gallons,  value  $480,683.  The  importations  increased  each  year.  In  1890  they  were 
893,984  gallons,  value  $819,110;  in  1891,  605,509  gallons,  value  $733,489;  in  1892  the  value 
was  $876,613.  The  number  of  gallons  imported  in  1890  was  more  than  double  the  num- 
ber imported  in  1881.  In  1892  the  value  of  increase  over  1891  was  $143,124.  Now  add  the 
amount  produced  and  sold  in  California  and  you  have  an  idea  of  the  commercial 
demand  for  olive  oil  in  the  United  States. 

The  amount  paid  for  imported  pickled  olives  from  Cadiz,  Spain,  in  1891,  was  $259,410; 
from  Marseilles,  France,  $11,118;  from  other  sources,  including  Italy,  $49,632;  total  in 
1891,  $320,163.     Increase  from  1890,  $108,346. 

Ten  years  ago  there  was  but  one  brand  of  olive  oil  put  up  in  this  State,  and  less  than 
500  gallons  were  made,  but  now  there  are  over  a  dozen  different  brands,  and  the  demand 
increasing  faster  than  the  production. 

The  product  of  the  State  in  gallons  is  as  follows:  1888,  690;  1889, 1,142;  1890, 5,202;  1891, 
11,011;  1892,  10,000;  total  product  from  1888  to  1892,  27,945  gallons.  One  fact  should  not 
be  lost  sight  of,  and  that  is  that  most  of  the  olive  oil  imported  is  not  pure,  but  heavily 
adulterated,  which  accounts  for  the  very  low  figure  at  which  it  is  sold. 

The  attention  and  influence  of  physicians  should  be  directed  to  the  general  instruc- 
tion in,  and  constant  use  of  olive  oil  by  all  classes  of  people,  from  the  fact  of  its  wonder- 
fully nutritious  character,  whether  taken  into  the  stomach  as  a  food,  or  applied  to  the 
surface  of  the  body  for  the  same  purpose,  and  also  that  it  is  not  only  healthy  but  at  the 
same  time  is  agreeable  to  the  palate.  In  diseases  of  children,  whether  it  be  applied 
internally  or  externally,  there  is  no  remedy  to  take  the  place  of  olive  oil. 

The  ripe  pickled  olive  as  a  food  has  a  value  not  usually  accorded  to  it  The  olives 
here  referred  to  are  not  the  green  olives  of  commerce,  which  are  very  indigestible.  My 
little  boy  was  given  olives  and  olive  oil  from  the  time  he  was  six  months  old;  he  was 
given  all  he  wanted  and  could  eat,  the  result  has  been  that  he  has  never  been  sick  and 
we  have  had  no  doctor's  bills  to  pay. 

Prunes.— The  commercial  value  of  California's  prune  crop  is  immense,  and  when  it 
is  taken  into  consideration  that  the  prune  was  not  introduced  until  1856,  and  that  for 
twenty  years  but  little  progress  was  made,  it  gives  some  idea  of  what  to  expect  in  the 
future.  The  amount  of  prunes  now  consumed  in  the  United  States  is  enormous,  but 
the  consumption  is  capable  of  great  enlargement,  as  the  superior  quality  and  taste  of 
the  Pacific  Coast  product  becomes  better  known.  It  will  be  years  before  the  demund 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  can  be  supplied,  and  when  it  is  there  will  be  the  markets  of 
Europe  and  the  rest  of  the  world  to  supply.  There  are  now  49,626  acres  in  the  State 
planted  to  prunes;  of  these  25,328  acres  are  in  bearing.    The  plum  is  not  so  extensively 


120 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


grown,  there  being  5,014  acres,  3,725  in  bearing.    The  plum  grows  to  perfection,  and  gives 
good  returns,  both  for  shipping  and  for  canning. 

The  following  table  gives  the  foreign  import  of  prunes  and  the  California  production 
for  the  six  years  from  1885  to  1892,  inclusive: 


Yeae. 

Foreign  Imports,  by  years, 
ending  June  30. 

California  Pro- 
duction, by 
years,  ending 

Pounds. 

Value. 

December  31— 
Pounds. 

1885                                               

57,631,820 
64,995,545 
92,032,625 
70,626,027 
46,154,825 
58,093,410 
34,281,322 

$2,147,505  00 
2,026,595  00 
2,999,648  00 
2,197,150  00 
1,423,304  00 
1,789,176  00 
2,054,486  CO 

1886                             - - 

2,000,000 

1887        -- 

1,825,000 

1888                               -     -     -— —  - 

2,100,000 

1889                      --- 

15,200,000 

1890                                                      - 

12,200,000 

1891                                    --- -- 

27,000,000 

1892                            

25,000,000 

The  immense  area  devoted  to  prune  culture  testifies  to  the  profound  and  well- 
founded  confidence  felt  in  the  future  of  the  industry  by  the  people  of  California. 
Although  but  a  comparatively  new  aspirant  for  public  favor,  the  California  prune  has 
forced  its  way  in  advance  of  the  imported  article,  and  brings  from  2  to  2)4  cents  per 
pound  more  than  the  French  prune  sold  in  competition  with  it.  The  proportion  of  pit 
and  skin  to  meat  in  the  California  fruit  is  much  less  than  in  that  of  the  French  article, 
while  the  proportion  of  saccharine  matter  is  much  greater.  These  features  give  our 
domestic  fruit  its  great  advantage  over  the  imported  article.  This  popularity  should 
be  no  surprise,  as  by  preparation  the  California  prune  is  a  different  article  from  the 
imported  French  or  Turkish  prune.  Our  prunes  are  more  like  dates,  and  when  cooked 
are  of  a  most  delicious  flavor.  Besides  this,  dealers  have  found  out  that  the  California 
prune  keeps  better  and  longer,  without  sugaring,  than  the  imported  goods. 

Prices  for  green  fruit,  delivered  at  the  driers,  range  from  $25  to  $40  per  ton;  the  dried 
product  brings  from  5^  to  10  cents  per  pound.  Plums  for  shipping  sell  at  from  40  cents 
to  $1  per  box  of  20  pounds. 

The  prune  is  a  prolific  bearer,  and  can  be  relied  upon  for  annual  crops.  Unlike  many 
fruits,  it  does  not  take  an  occasional  season's  rest,  but  will  yield  its  average  returns 
every  season.  If  properly  cultivated  some  fruit  may  be  gathered  the  third  year,  and  the 
fourth  year  will  yield  a  fairly  profitable  crop;  the  fifth  year  will  give  from  50  to  60 
pounds  to  the  tree,  which  the  sixth  year  should  double.  From  this  time  on  the  tree  can 
be  considered  as  in  full  bearing,  and  will  give  from  150  to  300  pounds  of  green  fruit 
annually. 

CITRUS  FRUITS. 

The  area  devoted  to  citrus  culture  in  California  has  been  largely  increased  during  the 
past  few  years.  In  1892  there  were  planted  1,976  acres  of  lemons  and  7,950  of  oranges; 
of  the  latter  Los  Angeles  planted  3,352  and  San  Bernardino  3,050.  The  immense  profits 
of  this  industry  have  attracted  the  attention  of  capitalists,  and  several  companies  have 
been  organized  for  the  culture  of  citrus  fruits  on  a  large  scale,  which  gives  promise  of 
a  vast  increase  in  citrus  culture  during  the  next  few  years.  The  relative  importance  of 
citrus  culture  in  the  State  can  be  appreciated,  from  the  fact  that  while  its  growth  as  a 
commercial  industry  is  confined  to  the  last  ten  years,  the  crop  of  1892-3  amounts  to 
about  6,000  carloads.  Careful  authorities  place  the  present  annual  consumption  of 
oranges  in  the  United  States  at  5,500,000  boxes,  or  an  approximate  total  of  825,000,000 
oranges.  A  use  of  only  one  orange  a  day  to  each  individual  would  require  an  annual 
supply  of  2.3,725,000,000  oranges,  and  at  an  average  of  500  to  the  tree  it  would  require 
678,000  acres  to  meet  the  demand,  or  more  than  ten  times  the  acreage  in  California. 
California  oranges  do  not  meet  the  competition  people  suppose,  because  the  crop  ripens 
after  the  Florida  crop  is  gone,  and  oranges  from  ^Mexico,  Panama,  and  Tahiti  come  in 
earlier  than  tlie  California  crop,  leaving  the  latter  practically  without  a  competitor. 

An  important  feature  in  citrus  culture  is  the  fact  that  the  large  yields  are  not  secured 
at  a  sacrifice  of  quality  or  flavor.    On  the  contrary,  the  quality  cannot  be  surpassed,  and 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKU     RESOURCES.  121 

the  strongest  evidence  of  this  is  in  the  fact  that  at  the  New  Orleans  World's  Fair  Kxpo- 
sition,  gold  medals  were  awarded  to  California  for  the  brst  twenty  varieties  of  oranKes 
in  competition  against  the  world.  At  present  there  are  69,997  acres  planted  to  the 
orange,  41,248  acres  of  which  are  in  bearing. 

Interest  in  Lemon  culture  has  of  late  years  shown  a  marked  activity,  and  the  acreage 
is  annually  increasing.  There  are  many  portions  of  the  State  especially  adapted  to  the 
culture  of  the  lemon,  which  has  been  found  a  very  prolitable  fruit  to  grow,  and  the 
remarkable  yields  that  have  been  obtained  of  line-grained  fruit  have  given  a  most 
encouraging  outlook.  Tests  made  by  experts  show  that  California  lemons  surpass  the 
foreign  by  33>^  per  cent  in  juice,  besides  possessing  superiority  in  acid,  thinner  skin, 
and  freedom  from  rag.  The  acid  of  the  lemon  more  commonly  enters  into  the  pre- 
scription of  physicians  than  other  fruits,  as  it  is  remarkably  conducive  to  health. 
They  are  especially  beneficial  in  all  febrile  affections,  and  at  the  same  time  there  is 
not  a  more  grateful  beverage  than  well-prepared  lemonade. 

The  consumption  of  lemons  is  increasing  rapidly  in  the  United  States,  having  nearly 
doubled  during  the  past  seven  j'ears,  and  it  was  only  until  recently  that  California 
lemons  were  known  in  the  Eastern  States.  This  condition  of  affairs  existed  for  the 
reason  that  lemon  culture  in  California  was  in  the  experimental  stage,  but  it  is  no 
longer  so;  the  proper  varieties  and  methods  of  curing  have  been  discovered,  and  to-day 
the  shipments  of  lemons  are  extensive.  There  will  always  be  a  market  for  California 
lemons,  as  the  importations  for  the  last  year  reached  $4,548,000,  representing  1,022,645 
boxes  of  300  lemons  each,  while  the  total  output  of  California  was  less  than  one  tenth 
this  amount.  Having  all  the  required  conditions  for  profitable  lemon  growing,  there  is 
no  reason  why  these  |4,000,000  expended  annually  for  lemons  from  abroad  should  not 
be  kept  within  the  United  States.  Our  California  lemons  will  slowly  but  surely  keep 
driving  the  foreign  from  the  American  market,  the  same  as  other  fruits  have  already 
done,  such  as  the  prune  and  raisin.  An  acre  of  lemons  should  yield  at  least  a  carload 
of  fruit.  This  would  be  a  very  small  estimate  of  three  boxes  to  the  tree.  This  fruit 
when  cured  is  worth  at  least  $2  per  box,  or  $600  per  acre.  The  lemon  crop  is  gathered 
from  October  to  December,  and  is  then  stored  away  for  several  months,  until  the  market 
demands  an  acid  fruit.  Lemons  in  this  way  are  kept  as  long  as  ten  months  without 
showing  any  deterioration  in  quality.  The  acreage  of  lemons  is  10,062,  of  which  there 
are  5,612  acres  in  bearing. 

The  Citron  grows  and  fruits  wherever  the  orange  and  the  lemon  are  grown.  We  now 
have  many  new  and  choice  varieties  fruiting,  which  are  of  recent  introduction.  From 
the  results  already  attained  in  the  preparation  of  the  citron,  which  is  of  superior  quality, 
there  can  be  no  question  but  that  in  time  the  California  preserved  citron  will  supplant 
the  foreign  product  in  our  markets. 

The  Lime  bears  well,  although  not  very  extensively  grown.  By  the  profits  realized 
in  lemon  growing,  no  doubt  the  growing  of  this  particular  fruit  is  overshadowed.  There 
are  many  sections  entirely  exempt  from  frost,  where  the  lime  does  remarkably  well, 
and  gives  good  returns.  There  is  no  reason  why  the  lime  could  not  be  more  largely 
grown,  and  why  the  manufacture  of  lime  juice  and  citric  acid  might  not  be  carried  on 
on  a  more  extensive  scale.  Lime  juice  and  citric  acid  are  both  necessities  all  over  the 
civilized  world. 

NUT  GROWING. 

Nut  culture  is  extensively  pursued  in  California.  The  Walnut  yields  large  returns. 
The  area  of  its  culture  is  spreading  rapidly  over  portions  of  the  State,  where  it  finds  a 
congenial  home.    There  are  now  14,912  acres  planted;  of  these  6,520  are  in  bearing. 

The  Almond  does  wonderfully  well  in  California,  and  the  area  is  rapidly  increasing. 
The  tree  is  a  good  bearer  and  gives  handsome  returns.  The  varieties  mostly  grown 
originated  in  this  State,  are  the  most  reliable,  yield  certain  crop.s,  and  the  nut  has  no 
equal.  The  crop  is  gathered  as  early  as  August  and  Septerhber,  and  can  therefore  be 
marketed  two  and  three  months  before  the  imported  can  reach  our  shores.  There  are 
10,906  acres  devoted  to  the  almond,  4,386  now  being  in  bearing.  The  product  has  sold 
for  from  10  to  30  cents  a  po\md,  and  from  $100  to  ^LW  net  has  been  realized  i)er  acre, 
the  orchards  not  being  over  five  years  old,  and  as  they  become  older  the  profits  will 
necessarilv  increase. 


122  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

The  Pecan  nut  does  remarkablj'  well,  although  it  has  not  been  cultivated  very  exten- 
sively.   The  tree  does  best  in  a  warm  exposure  and  in  a  deep,  rich  soil. 

The  Chestnut  does  well  wherever  the  walnut  is  grown.  The  fruit  produced  is 
remarkable  for  size  and  fine  quality. 

Hazel  Nuts  and  Filberts  are  grown  only  to  a  limited  extent,  but  do  remarkably  well 
in  most  portions  of  the  State,  and  wherever  the  walnut  grows  they  thrive  and  produce 
abundant  crops.  They  are  very  productive  and  hardy,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  fail  to  produce 
a  good  crop  annually. 

The  Pistachio  nut  grows  and  does  well  in  California. 

:Many  new  kinds  of  nuts  are  being  introduced,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that 
they  will  prove  remunerative. 

GRAPE   CULTURE, 

In  California  nearly  every  variety  of  grape  is  grown,  and  from  which  handsome 
returns  are  obtained.  California  is  the  only  raisin-producing  State  in  the  Union,  and 
her  raisins  are  known  the  world  over,  and  this  industry,  which  is  only  the  outgrowth  of 
the  past  twenty  years,  ranks  to-day  among  the  most  important  of  our  State.  Our 
raisins  are  materially  replacing  the  imported  article,  and  in  a  short  time  the  United 
States,  instead  of  being  an  importer,  will  become  an  exporter  of  raisins.  The  official 
report  of  the  United  States  census  for  1890  contains  this  statement  as  to  the  yield  over 
the  previous  year:  "There  were  1,372,195  boxes  of  raisins  produced  in  the  United  States, 
of  which  the  entire  lot  came  from  California.  The  market  value  was  |1  60  per  box." 
In  1872,  6,000  boxes  were  produced;  in  1883,  125,000  boxes;  in  1892,  2,858,100  boxes,  or 
57,162,000  pounds.  The  importations  were:  In  1884,  53,702,220  pounds,  value  $3,290,150; 
and  in  1892,  23,250,809  pounds,  value  $1,073,442. 

There  are  now  82,222  acres  planted  to  raisin  grapes,  and  16,452  acres  to  table  and 
shipping  grapes. 

In  1891  an  association  was  formed  of  raisin  growers  representing  over  95  per  cent  of 
the  raisin-producing  acreage  of  the  State,  who  agreed  to  observe  the  following  minimum 
prices,  which  are  calculated  upon  a  basis  that  will  pay  the  grower  ^]4  cents  per  pound 
in  the  sweat-box  for  all  good  raisins,  both  of  the  first  and  second  crop:  Clusters,  $2 
per  box  of  20  pounds;  3-Crown  London  layers,  $1  65  per  box;  2-Crown  London  layers, 
$1  45  per  box;  3-Crown  fancy  loose,  faced,  $1  45  per  box;  3-Crown  fancy  loose,  unfaced, 
$1  40  per  box;  3-Crown  loose,  boxed,  $1  25  per  box;  4-Crown  loose,  sacked,  b'%  cents  per 
pound;  3-Crown  loose,  sacked,  5  cents  per  pound;  2-Crown  loose,  sacked,  4  cents  per 
pound;  Seedless  Muscats,  5  cents  per  pound;  Seedless  Muscats,  fancy,  5>^  cents  per 
pound. 

SMALL   FRUITS. 

Small  fruits  of  all  kinds  are  extensively  grown  in  California,  and  are  quite  profitable. 
All  kinds  yield  well,  the  strawberry  crop  especially  being  very  large,  and  the  fruit  is  of 
more  than  usual  excellence.  Blackberries,  raspberries,  and  gooseberries  all  give  good 
annual  returns,  and  the  producers  find  a  ready  market,  both  for  domestic  consumption 
and  for  canning,  at  fair  prices.  Considerable  new  land  has  been  set,  especially  to  black- 
berries and  raspberries,  which  do  well  in  most  parts  of  the  State.  At  present  there  are 
4,539  acres  in  the  State  devoted  to  the  culture  of  small  fruits. 

ACREAGE   IN   FRUITS. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  fruits  produced  here  that  do  well  and  pay  handsomely 
that  cannot  be  produced  in  most  of  the  Eastern  States,  as  the  citrus  and  sub-tropical 
varieties.  The  climate  of  California  is  particularly  favorable  to  the  fruit  industry,  and 
the  soil  in  most  portions  of  the  State  possesses  in  a  large  measure  all  the  qualities 
required  by  the  growing  plant  and  the  matured  tree.  These  are  facts  which  give  assur- 
ance to  the  future  of  the  fruit  as  a  permanent  and  profitable  pursuit.  Another 
advantage  which  the  California  orchardist  has  over  his  brother  in  the  East  is  the  com- 
parative freedom  of  our  trees  from  insect  pests  and  injurious  tree  and  plant  diseases. 
The  vigorous  system  of  quarantining  against  the  introduction  of  such  pests  as  the 
destructive  curculio,  black  knot,  the  yellows,  etc.,  which  have  wrought  such  havoc  in 
large  fruit  areas  of  the  East,  has  so  far  secured  to  our  orchardists  immunity  from  those 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


123 


and  gives  them  an  almost  absolute  guarantee 


most  destructive  enemies  to  fruit  cultur 
of  protection  in  the  future. 

The  fruit  picking,  curing,  and  packing  gives  employment  to  many  of  our  people- 
women,  boys,  and  girls.  In  the  canneries  and  in  cutting  and  pitting  tiie  fruit  for  drj'inR. 
they  are  more  deft  than  men,  and  in  working  by  the  piece  can  earn  high  wages.  All 
members  of  a  family  are  called  into  action  during  the  long  fruit  season  in  California. 
Children,  during  school  vacation,  find  employment  at  canneries  and  drying  housi-.s,  the 
light  outdoor  exercise  contributing  to  health,  strength  of  body,  and  cheerfulnosa  of 
spirits,  especially  when  combined  with  the  thought  that  the  work  of  nimble  fingers  will 
result  in  jiroviding  some  desired  comfort. 

The  following  is  the  acreage  devoted  to  the  culture  of  different  fruits  in  the  State  as 
enumerated  in  1892  by  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture,  collected  by  special  agents: 


Name  OF  County. 

Total 
Beariug. 

Total  not 
Bearing. 

Grand 
Total. 

Name  OF  County. 

Total 
Bearing. 

Total  not 
Bearing. 

Gmnd 
Total. 

Alameda 

13,302 

16 

445 

4,215 

791 

930>^ 

2,335 

113H 

2,023 

47,174 

1,552 

1,047 

326 

7,386 

1,022 

486 

20,450 

636 

415 

848 

1,952 

280 

11 

1,580 

1,579 

1,005^ 

12,206 

4,826 

3,097 

627 
8,251 

555 
1,218 
1,575 

502 

2,725 

855 

325 

165 

1,806 

707 

97 

13,383 

141 

145 

626 

1,009 

16,399 

28^ 

1,072 

12,466 

1,346 

2,1481^ 

3,910 

150 

2,525 

49,899 

2,407 

1,372 

491 

9,192 

1,729 

583 

33,833 

777 

560 

1,474 

2,961 

280 

11 

2,466 

3,260 

1,684 

14,640 

8,402 

Plumas 

Sacramento 

San  Benito 

San  P.ernardino 

San  Diego  

San  .loaquin  ... 
San  Luis  Obispo 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara  . 

Santa  Clara 

Santa  Cruz 

Shasta    

72 

10,055 

1,151 

36,635 

12,795 

3,567 

3,262 

.361 

6,243 

15,953 

4,170 

1,144 

93 

895 

12,442 

7,977 

603 

1,811 

4,302 

185 

15,442 

519 

3,397 

9,483 

987 

13 
2,490 
562 
12,(J01 
2,987 
2,413 
1,384 
69 
3,196 
7,984 
3,206 
1,017 

85 

12,545 

1,713 

49  236 

Amador 

Butte 

Calaveras  

Colusa 

15,782 
5,980 

430 
9,439 
23,937 
7,376 

Contra  Costa  ... 

Del  Norte 

El  Dorado 

Fresno 

Glenn        .  .  ... 

2,161 
93 

Inyo 

Sierra 

Kern             .   .  . 

Siskiyou 

Solano 

Sonoma  

Stanislaus 

Sutter  

677 
6,458 
4,640 

703 

1,0^ 

3,058 

60 

6,167 

126 
7,758 
2,184 
1,018 

1,572 

Lake 

18,900 

12,617 

Los  Angeles 

1,306 
2,845 

Mariposa 

Mendocino 

Tehama 

Trinity  

Tulare 

7,360 

^5 

21,609 

Tuolumne 

Ventura 

Yolo 

'645 

Mono 

11,155 

Monterey  

Napa 

886 
1,681 

678K 
2,434 
3,576 

11,667 

Yuba 

2,005 

Nevada 

Totals 

Orange  

Placer 

282,496M 

118,918>^ 

401,415 

FRUIT  SHIPMENTS. 

The  shipments  of  deciduous  fruits  increased  from  1,832,310  pounds  in  1871,  to  336,184,- 
986  in  1892.  If  we  estimate  that  it  takes  five  pounds  of  green  fruit  to  make  one  of  dried, 
and  three  pounds  of  grapes  to  make  one  of  raisins,  it  will  be  seen  that  California  pro- 
duced in  1892,  exclusive  of  home  consumption,  677,355,546  pounds  of  fruit. 

The  trade  in  canned  fruits  is  one  of  the  most  important  industries  in  the  State.  The 
export  trade  has  developed  a  steady  and  substantial  growth.  In  1876  the  output  was 
270,833  cases;  in  1892  it  was  1,847,000  cases. 

The  following  is  from  the  "California  Fruit  Grower":  During  the  season  of  1892,  the 
33  canneries  operating  in  California  packed  fruit  as  follows: 

Apricots ?^'MeI 

Peaches ^];^!5. 

Pears - 2<>8,4/9 

Plums.  J  ".'.III.  I"  "'J.  "J""."'"""""!-.  1 135,296 

Other  fruits,  berries,  grapes,  cherries,  etc 247,409 

Total  pack 1,602,39<J 

As  indicating  the  great  importance  and  vast  possibilities  of  the  fruit  industry  of 
California,  a  statement  of  the  exports  for  1892  is  given,  compiled  from  a  report  to  the 
California  State  Board  of  Trade  by  Gen.  N.  P.  Chipman,  Chairman  of  Committee  on 


124 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


Industrial  Resources  of  the  State.  The  total  amount  shipped  by  rail  in  1890  was  16,194 
cars,  or  323,915,181  pounds;  in  1891,  17,738  cars,  or  354,778,210  pounds;  in  1892,  18,741  cars, 
or  374,826,050  pounds.  The  total  by  sea  and  rail  in  1892  was  20,495  cars,  or  409,917,266 
pounds.  In  the  above  amounts  nuts  are  included,  as  follows:  1890,  1,574,230  pounds; 
1891,  2,623,560  pounds,  and  in  1892,  4,126,025  pounds. 


Fruit  Shipment 

s  East  by  the  Southern  Pacific 

System,  in  1892. 

Place. 

Deciduous 

Green 
Fruit,  Lbs. 

Citrus 
Fruit, 
Pounds. 

Dried 
Fruit, 
Pounds. 

Raisins, 
Pounds. 

Nuts, 
Pounds. 

Canned 
Fruit. 
Pounds. 

332,000 
3,034,000 
14,084,000 
12.106,000 
62  142  000 

222,000 

7,394,000 
226,000 
18,948,000 
9,888,000 
7,890,000 
3,340,000 

894,000 

364,000 
120,000 
20,000 
34,000 
482,000 
122,000 

30,108,000 

Oakland 

4,028,000 
16  030  000 

San  Jos^ 

60,000 

39,366,000 

1,500,000 

328,000 

Stockton .. 

Sacramento 

2,000 

2,662,000 
14,572,000 
3,408,000 

Marysville 

3,962,000 

Total  north  of  Tehachapi. 
Los  Angeles 

95,660,000 
800,000 

224,000 

17,852,000 

47,686,000 
5,484,000 

42,148,000 
1,692,000 

1,142,000 
1,170,000 

70,808,000 
3,108,000 

Total  by  S.  P.  Co 

96,460,000 

18,076,000 

53,170,000 

43,840,000 

2,312,000 

73,916,000 

Fruit  Shipments  East  by  the  Santa  Fe  System,  in  1892. 


County  akd  Place  of 
Shipment. 


Deciduous 

Green 
Fruit,  Lbs, 


Citrus 
Fruit, 
Pounds. 


Dried 

Fruit, 
Pounds. 


Raisins, 
Pounds. 


Nuts, 
Pounds. 


Canned 
Fruit, 
Pounds. 


Los  Angeles 

Orange 

San  Bernardino 

San  Diego 

Total  south  of  Tehachapi 


7,328,940 
733,090 

6,221,540 
945,120 


10,311,000 

5,103,000 

35,322,000 

903,000 


2,299,060 
730,910 

2,202,460 
333,550 


393,320 

240,000 

5,016,000 

3,624,000 


1,412,940 
209,720 
58,780 
23,800 


15,228,( 


51,639,000 


5,565,980 


9,273,320 


1,705,240 


3,170,600 

25,520 

439,720 

3,980 


Summary  of  Fruit  Shipments  by  Rail,  in  1892. 


Kinds. 

S.  P.  Co. 

Santa  Fe 
System. 

Total  Pounds. 

Total  Cars. 

96,460,000 
18,076,000 
53,170,000 
43,840,000 
2,312,000 
73,916,000 

15,228,690 
51,639,000 
5,565,980 
9,273,320 
1,705,240 
3,639,820 

111,688,690 
69,715,000 
58,735,980 
53,113,320 
4,017,240 
77,555,820 

5,584.43 

Citrus  fruits 

3,485.76 
2,936.79 
2,655.66 

Dried  fruits 

Raisins                      .          ... 

Nuts  (almonds  and  walnuts) 

Canned  fruits 

200.76 
3,877.79 

287,774,000 
14,388.7 

87,052,050 
4,352.6 

374,826,050 
18,741.3 

Cars 

18,741.18 

Fruit  Shipments  by  Sea  from  San  Francisco,  in  1892. 

Pounds. 

Canned  fruits 32,991,600 

Dried  fruits 696,681 

Green  fruits   1,060,510 

Nuts - 108,785 

Raisins 233,640 


Total  pounds  of  all  kinds 35,091,216 

Total  in  carloads 1,754.5 

Total  pounds  by  sea  and  by  rail,  409,917,266;  total  cars  by  sea  and  by  rail,  20,495.  The 
places  from  which  shipments  are  made  are  terminal  points,  from  which  all  shipments 
for  the  East  are  billed. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RKSOURCES. 


125 


SHIPMENTS    OF    CITRUS    FRUITS. 

The  following  table  shows  the  importauce  of  citrus  culture  in  tlie  Statr,  and  also  its 
rapid  growth.  The  figures  are  given  for  tlie  southern  counties,  wliere  the  hulk  of  tho 
fruit  is  produced.  About  12  carloads  were  exported  from  tlie  other  counties  in  1891,  and 
22  carloads  in  1892-3,  which  is  a  rapid  increase  for  these  new  citrus  belts: 


1890. 

1891. 

Boxes. 

Cars. 

Boxes. 

Cars. 

198,695 

487,000 

112,190 

9,460 

6,600 

781 
1,705 

307 
33 
23 

632,071 

487,882 

147,332 

19,475 

18,861 

6,478 

2.212 

1,708 

516 

San  Bernardino     . 

San  Diego 

fi6 

Santa  Barbara 

23 

Totals           

813,945 

2,849 

1  312  099  1              J  "^fJi 

Figures  of  the  output  for  crop  of  1892  are  not  yet  available,  but  it  is  estimated  that  it 
will  reach  over  6,000  carloads,  the  highest  yet  produced. 

SHIPMENTS   THROUGH   THE   CALIFORNIA  FRUIT   UNION. 

The  California  Fruit  Union,  an  association  of  orchardists,  and  which  controls  a  large 
part  of  the  output  of  deciduous  fruits  of  the  State,  reports  the  shipments  by  it  for  1892 
at  1,694  carloads,  an  increase  of  351  carloads  over  the  preceding  year,  and  an  increase  of 
846  carloads  over  1888,  the  first  year  of  operation.  The  shipments  were  principally  from 
Vacaville,  Newcastle,  San  Jos6,  Winters,  and  Sacramento. 

The  markets  to  which  the  above  shipments  were  made  were  as  follows:  Chicago,  715; 
New  York,  365;  Boston,  99;  New  Orleans,  62;  Louisville,  7;  Minneapolis,  156;  St.  Paul,  68; 
Omaha,  102;  Kansas  City,  28;  St.  Louis,  52;  Philadelphia,  40.    Total,  1,694. 

The  duplicate  account  of  sales  of  shipments  made,  thus  far  received,  show  that  1,233,- 
239  packages  of  fruit  sold  for  $1,908,219  12  gross,  out  of  which  was  deducted  $700,409  04 
for  freight,  $142,323  14  for  cartage,  commission,  and  storage;  a  total  of  $842,732  18,  leav- 
ing $1,065,486  94  as  net  money  received  by  the  shippers. 


DRIED  FRUITS. 

In  1880  we  shipped  to  the  markets  of  the  East  590,000  pounds  of  dried  fruit,  and  in 
1889  over  33,000,000  pounds,  or  fifty-six  times  the  volume  of  the  shipments  of  1880.  The 
shipments  of  1890  of  dried  fruit  were  64,595,181  pounds,  65,090,220  pounds  for  1891,  and 
58,735,980  pounds  for  1892.  In  1880  the  shipments  of  raisins  were  less  than  800,000  pounds, 
and  in  1889  they  reached  18,000,000  pounds,  41,120,330  pounds  in  1890,  44,954,850  pounds  in 
1891,  and  53,113,320  pounds  in  1892. 

The  rapid  increase  in  population  in  the  United  States  promises  a  steadily  increasing 
demand  for  our  fruit  products,  for  fruit  is  not  now,  as  it  was  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
century,  an  article  of  luxury— it  has  become  a  food  necessity.  Aside  from  our  home 
market  there  is  a  large  foreign  demand  for  our  fruits,  and  they  are  sliippcd  dried,  green, 
and  canned  to  various  parts  of  the  world  from  California.  A  few  years  since  California 
imported  nearly  all  her  canned  goods  from  the  East,  but  now  she  supplies  the  markets 
of  the  Eastern  States,  Australia,  and  Europe  with  fruit,  the  superiority  and  cheapness 
of  the  California  article  having  forced  it  to  the  front  in  competition  with  all  others. 

In  1880  our  exports  of  fruit  brought,  probably,  about  $7rX),a«,  while  they  now  amount 
to  .$20,000,000.  This  wonderful  result  has  brought  with  it  what  is  above  all  computation, 
to  wit:  the  demonstration  that  fruit  growing  in  this  State  is  very  profitable,  and  is 
almost  absolutely  safe  from  frosts  and  other  drawbacks,  and  has  practically  no  limit. 
Another  promising  sign  is  the  gradual  decreased  importation  of  many  foreign  fruit» 
into  the  United  States,  and  the  increased  output  of  the  domestic  product. 


126 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 


MARKETS  AND  PRICES. 

The  fruit  is  mostly  marketed  by  the  growers  themselves,  and  in  some  sections  local 
cooperative  organizations  have  been  formed,  through  which  the  major  portion  of  the 
products  have  been  handled.  The  California  Fruit  Union  was  organized  in  1885,  and  a 
large  portion  of  the  deciduous  fruit  crop  has  been  shipped  through  it,  and  as  a  rule  the 
fruit  shipped  through  the  Union  has  brought  good  prices.  It  is  a  cooperative  organiza- 
tion, with  about  a  thousand  members.  On  all  shipments  a  rebate  has  been  declared  to 
its  members. 

Of  -local  associations  the  Campbell  Fruit  Growers'  Union  is  perhaps  the  most  active. 
Last  year  it  handled  fruit  to  the  extent  of  about  one  fourth  of  the  capacity  of  their 
plant,  viz.:  539  tons,  including  green  and  dried  fruits.  Of  this  amount  404  tons  were 
processed  (dried)  for  stockholders,  83  tons  sold  green,  and  the  remainder  was  received 
and  sold  fresh  and  dried.  The  fruit  netted  to  the  stockholders  per  ton,  green:  Apricots, 
average,  .$40  96;  peaches,  $22  84  to  $46  82;  Silver  prunes,  from  $48  75  to  $58;  California 
(syn.,  French)  prunes,  as  follows: 


Size. 

Price  per 
Ton  Green. 

Pounds  Green 

to  1  Pound 

Dried. 

Price  per 
Pound  Dried. 

40's  to    50's                                               

$75  51 
84  44 
87  06 
89  77 
96  16 

102  31 

2.56 
2.20 
2.09 
1.93 
1.71 
1.45 

12     cents. 

50's  to    60's 

105^  cents. 
10>^  cents. 
10     cents. 

60's  to    70's - 

70'3  to    80's                                                        

80's  to    90's - 

lOO's  to  120's - - - 

9K  cents. 
8     cents. 

Average  price  of  six  grades  was  $84  95;  average  price  of  five  grades  (leaving  out  40's 
to  50's)  was  $88  43.  The  President  of  the  Union  remarks:  "  We  were  surprised  to  learn 
that  the  smallest  prunes  brought  the  highest  prices.  This  was  due  to  the  smallest 
grades  losing  so  little  in  drying."  Prices  of  green  fruit  were  as  follows,  net:  Apricots, 
$42  50;  early  peaches,  $45;  Muir  and  Cling  peaches,  $50;  Salway  peaches,  $60. 

The  cost  of  drying  fruit  per  ton,  green,  was  as  follows:  Apricots,  $6  25;  peaches, 
$6  50;  Silver  prunes,  $2  50;  California  (syn.,  French)  prunes,  $2  25. 

The  proportion  of  green  fruit  required  to  make  a  pound  of  dried  fruit  was  as  follows: 
Apricots,  5.14  pounds;  peaches,  5.16  pounds;  Silver  prunes,  3.02  pounds;  California  (syn., 
French)  prunes,  from  1.45  to  2.56  pounds. 

The  prices  realized  for  dried  fruit  per  pound  were  as  follows:  Apricots,  13  to  17  cents; 
peaches,  from  10  to  12  cents;  Silver  prunes,  from  9  to  11  cents.  The  advantage  of  this 
organization  to  the  producer  was  that  all  the  fruit  sold  for  spot  cash,  f.o.b.  The  receipts 
of  the  Union  from  all  sources  were  $42,650  77,  and  the  disbursements  $42,052  15. 

The  following  table  shows  the  prices  realized  for  fruit  in  New  York,  as  reported  by 
a  leading  fruit  auctioneer: 


1889. 


1892. 


Average  gross  per  carload  of  24,000  lbs.  of  fruit- 
Average  net  per  carload  of  24,000  lbs.  of  fruit... 

Gross  average  per  10-pound  box  of  cherries 

Gross  average  per  40-pound  box  of  Bartlett  pears 

Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  apricots 

Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  peaches 

Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  prunes 

Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  f>lums 

Gross  average  per  40-pound  box  of  Tokay  grapes 
Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  Tokay  grapes 
Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  Muscat  grapes 
Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  ("ornichons  . 
Gross  average  per  20-pound  box  of  Emperors  .. 

Total  number  cars  sold  in  New  York 


$1,241  69 
616  67 

1  45 

2  90 
1  47 
1  44 
1  61 

1  44 

3  90 

2  23 

1  41 

2  01 
1  90 


$1,415  16 
805  48 

1  61 

2  54 
1  48 
1  64 
1  76 
1  68 

3  90 
1  99 

1  28 

2  03 
1  94 


$1,114  54 

489  50 

1  38 

1  82 

1  29 


$1,323  80 
756  89 

1  12 

2  18 
1  30 
1  10 
1  37 
1  33 

3  56 

1  56 
95 

2  76 


741 


675 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HEIt     RESOURCES. 


127 


SEMI-TROPICAL    FRUITS. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Census  Bureau,  the  acreage  in  the  United  States 
devoted  to  the  culture  of  the  different  fruits  enumerated,  in  1890,  is  as  follows:  Almonds, 
13,515;  orange,  184,003;  citron,  1G9;  walnut,  12,180;  guava,  550;  ligs,  4,477;  lemon,  7,25(); 
limes,  495;  olives,  7,097;  persimmons,  1,362.  These  figures  are  most  remarkable,  for 
while  the  acreage  given  is  no  doubt  conservative  and  low,  yet  it  shows  that  most  of 
these  fruits  must  be  grown  exclusively,  or  nearly  so,  in  I'alifornia;  for  instance,  the 
acreage  of  figs  is  given  at  4,477  acres,  while  there  are  5,231;  of  olives,  7,097  acres  are 
given,  while  there  are  7,997;  of  walnuts,  12,180  acres  are  given,  while  there  are  14,912  acres; 
of  lemons,  7,256  acres  are  given,  while  there  are  10,062)X  acres;  of  almonds,  13,515  acres 
are  given,  while  there  are  only  9,228  in  the  State,  showing  that  California  lias  over  two 
thirds  of  the  area  planted.  Of  oranges,  there  are  184,003  acres  given,  while  we  have 
60,007  acres,  or  very  nearly  one  third  of  the  entire  area.  The  Census  Bureau,  for  reasons 
best  known  to  itself,  fails  to  enumerate  the  following  fruits,  which  are  extensively 
grown  in  California:  the  apple,  pear,  peach,  cherry,  and  the  grape. 


IMPORTS    OF    CITRUS    FRUITS. 

In  1885  the  value  of  the  importations  into  the  United  States  of  oranges  was  |2,088,204; 
of  lemons,  $2,510,426.    In  1892,  oranges,  $1,133,959;  lemons,  $4,580,211. 

For  the  year  ending  October  31st  there  were  614,628  boxes  of  oranges  imported  as 
against  1,050,988.  Of  lemons  for  the  same  period  there  were  2,291,700,  as  against  1,828,720 
respectively.  These  figures  show  that  there  has  been  a  falling  off  in  the  imports  of 
oranges,  while  there  is  a  notable  increase  in  the  imports  of  lemons.  Thirty  years  ago 
there  were  imported  into  the  United  States  300,000  boxes  of  citrus  fruits.  In  1889 
Florida  contributed  600,000  boxes  to  supply  the  demand,  and  California  contributed 
780,000  boxes.  Thus  the  country  into  which  thirty  years  ago  were  imported  300,000 
boxes  of  citrus  fruits,  produced  within  its  own  borders  1,380,000  boxes.  In  1889  there 
were  imported  into  the  United  States  3,354,963  boxes  and  113,927  barrels  of  citrus  fruits; 
thus,  the  importation,  notwithstanding  the  production  of  California  and  Florida,  was 
eleven  times  more  than  that  noted  prior  to  the  beginning  of  home  production.  Thirty 
years  ago  the  entire  demand  in  the  United  States  was  imported.  While  this  country  has 
become  a  producer  to  the  extent  of  1,380,000  boxes  the  importation  in  the  same  time 
has  risen  to  nearly  4,000,000  boxes,  thus  constantly  widening  the  margin  in  favor  of  the 
home  producer,  and  forever  silencing  all  prophecies  of  over-production. 

In  the  years  1891  and  1892  there  were  imported  into  the  United  States  foreign  fruits 
as  follows: 


Year  ending  Sept.  30, 1891. 

Year  ending  Sept.  30, 1892. 

Quantity. 
Pounds. 

Value. 

Quantity. 
Pounds. 

Value. 

Figs.. 

9,263,497 

$867,089 
4,884,039 
2,308,7^ 
1,940,102 
1,302,104 
649,007 
893,709 
1,790,516 

8,537,457 

$517,093 

Lemons 

4,580,211 

1,13.3,9.59 

32,081,702 

13,421,167 

50«i,070 

Presfirvp.d  frnits 

9;iH,071 

Other  fruits 

604,448 

Almonds 

5,936,812 
34,866,448 

7,803,666 
23,250,809 

i,o;{o,o2»; 

Raisins 

1,073,442 

Totals 

$15,062,208 

$11,237,285 

At  this  present  writing  the  report  for  December  quarter  was  not  at  band  and  the 
table  shows,  for  convenience,  the  years  ending  September  30th. 

These  figures  clearly  indicate  that  there  is  a  large  and  increasing  liome  market  for 
California  fruits  yet  unfilled,  and  are  encouraging.  Despite  the  heavy  demand  for 
California  fruits  in  1890  there  was  an  increa.sed  importation  of  foreign  fruits  into  the 
United  States  of  $4,772,439  over  the  preceding  year,  and  a  total  of  $16,816,897  was  paid 
out  in  that  year  for  foreign  fruits. 


128  CALIFORNIA  AND  HER  RESOURCES. 

COST  OF  PRODUCT. 

Deciduous  Fruit  Orchard.*— Mr.  A.  T.  Hatch,  the  largest  and  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising fruit  growers  in  the  State,  estimates  the  cost  (not  including  land)  as  follows: 

Per  acre. 

Trees,  labor,  staking,  and  planting $25  00  to  $30  00 

Pruning  and  cultivating,  lirst  year    10  00  to    15  00 

Pruning  and  cultivating,  second  year,  replanting 3  00  to     5  00 

Pruning  and  cultivating,  third  year  _ 12  00  to    15  00 

Pruning  and  cultivating,  fourth  year 15  00  to    15  00 

Total .—$65  00  to  $80  00 

Pears  and  peaches  should,  with  favorable  conditions,  produce  enough  to  pay 
expenses  the  fourth  year.  Peaches  often  produce  $100  to  $150  an  acre  the  fourth  year. 
Prunes  and  pears  will  not  be  in  as  good  bearing  condition  before  the  sixth  year  as 
peaches  are  in  the  fourth. 

Vineyard  of  Table  Grapes.*— Mr.  C.  W.  Reed,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  fruit  growing  in 
the  State,  estimates  the  cost  of  a  vineyard,  as  follows: 

Per  acre. 

Rooted  vines,  10x10,  430,  at  $15  per  thousand $6  45 

For  plowing 1  50 

Harrowing  and  marking  before  planting 2  00 

Planting  with  plows 3  00 

Cultivation,  first  year 5  00 

Cultivation  and  pruning,  second  year 8  00 

Cultivation  and  pruning,  third  year 10  00 

Total- - $35  95 

The  fourth  year  a  vineyard  of  table  grapes  should  yield  from  two  to  four  tons, 

worth  from  $25  to  $40  per  ton. 

Orange  or  Lemon  Orchard. — The  cost  of  a  lemon  or  orange  orchard  depends  upon 

what  is  paid  for  the  land.    Estimating  the  first  cost  of  the  land  at  $200  per  acre,  the  cost 

of  a  10-acre  bearing  orchard  can  be  given  as  follows: 

First  cost— 

10  acres  land,  with  water,  at  $200 $2,000  00 

Clearing,  plowing,  etc 150  00 

Cost  of  trees,  2-year  buds,  1,000  at  $1  each 1,000  00 

Setting  out  same -- 70  00 

$3,220  00 

Care  of  orchard  first,  second,  and  third  years $450  00 

Care  of  orchard  fourth  and  fifth  years 400  00 

Interest  on  $3,220  for  five  years,  at  7  per  cent. 1,127  20 

Taxes -- 100  00    - 

2,077  20 

Total... — - — - $5,297  20 

Contra. 

Yield  the  fourth  year,  H  box  to  the  tree,  500  boxes,  at  $2  50 -  $1,250  GO 

Yield  the  fifth  year,  %  box  to  the  tree,  750  boxes,  at  $2  50 1,875  00 

Total - $3,125  00 

After  the  fi  f th  year  the  yield  increases  rapidly.  One  thousand  dollars  an  acre  is  as  low 
as  such  an  orchard  can  be  bought.    Thus,  in  five  years  the  balance  sheet  would  stand: 

Yield  of  orchard  the  fourth  year $1,250  00 

Yield  of  orchard  the  fifth  year 1,875  00 

Value  of  orchard... - 10,000  00 

Total $13,125  00 

As  above  stated,  cost --- - --     5,297  20 

Net  profit,  over  all  expenses,  including  interest $7,827  80 

The  estimate  of  returns  is  based  upon  fruit  selling  for  from  $2  50  to  $3  50  per  box. 
This  showing  is  made  from  the  standpoint  that  the  owner  of  the  orchard  gives  no 
personal  attention  to  the  care  of  his  ranch,  but  has  hired  all  his  work  done. 

*The  above  reports  were  made  in  response  to  questions  put  by  the  "  Record-Union,"  a  paper 
issued  in  Sacramento  City,  and  published  by  that  paper.  They  were  selected  from  among  a 
number  of  other  responses  as  being  average  statements. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKU     UKS(n-KrKa.  129 


VINICULTURE. 

ft  By  WiNFiELD  Scott,  Secretary  15oiird  of  Stiite  VllicuUiiral  CoinmlKsioiicrs. 

It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  for  some  time  i>ast  wiiic-tjrape  growiiij;  and  wine  ami 
brandy  making  have  not  been  as  profitable  in  California  as  conld  be  desired.  Never- 
theless, in  spite  of  the  drawbacks  incident  to  nnprolitablc  operations,  a  vast  improve- 
ment in  the  quality  of  the  products,  and  in  the  manner  of  disposing  of  tliem,  has  been 
effected  by  those  engaged  in  the  viticultural  industry;  and  those  who  are  in  a  position 
to  judge,  expect  a  revival  of  interest  and  an  increase  in  prices  in  the  immediate  future. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  account  for  the  temporary  dei)ression  which  has  existed.  About 
1880  began  an  increase  in  the  acreage  devoted  to  the  wine  and  braiuly  grape  varieties. 
About  that  time,  owing  to  the  short  supply  of  wine  for  the  then  small  wine  market, 
and  the  consequent  large  returns  from  bearing  vineyards,  attention  was  extensively 
called  to  the  wine  and  brandy  business.  The  many  new  vineyards  i)Iantcd  at  tliis 
period  came  into  bearing  from  1884  to  1889;  thus  greatly  augmenting  the  vintage.  In 
the  meantime  no  adequate  provision  had  been  made  for  the  sale  of  the  wine.  I'rices  of 
wine,  of  vineyards,  and  of  vineyard  hinds  receded  as  a  natural  consequence,  and  the 
wine  makers  and  merchants  found  themselves  face  to  face  with  the  dilHcult  problem  of 
urging  consumption. 

Tliat  this  lias  been  met  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  annual  shipments  of  wine 
out  of  the  State— in  1880,  about  3,000,000  gallons— have  grown  steadily,  until,  in  the  year 
1893,  they  will  reach  the  handsome  total  of  over  12,000,000  gallons.  Add  to  this  amount 
the  coast  consumption,  which  is  estimated  at  about  8,000,000  gallons,  and  the  quantity 
of  wine  now  required  to  meet  the  demands  of  trade  is  20,000,000  gallons. 

The  maximum  of  production  was  undoubtedly  reached  in  1891,  when  the  total  was 
not  far  from  22,000,000  gallons.  Since  then,  production  has  actually  decreased,  on  account 
of  the  vineyards  destroyed  by  the  phylloxera  and  the  Anaheim  disease  being  devoted 
to  the  planting  of  deciduous  fruits,  and  the  neglect  of  owners. 

The  future  is  now  a  question  of  sui)ply  and  demand.  The  limit  of  production,  for 
five  years  at  least,  has  been  reached,  as  no  new"  bearing  vineyards  can  be  created  before 
that  time.  On  the  contrary,  the  present  demand  has  not  only  grown  to  the  point  of  pos- 
sible supply,  but  has  caused  a  material  shrinkage  of  old  stocks.  This  demand  is  from 
every  Eastern  State  and  Central  America,  Mexico,  .Japan,  Hawaii,  Tahiti,  (iermany,  and 
England.  It  is  founded,  substantially,  on  legitimate  demands  and  must  be  met  as  it 
grows.  Such,  then,  is  the  situation  to-day.  Wine  buyers  from  the  cellars  of  the  pro- 
ducers are  willing  to  pay  from  50  to  75  per  cent  better  prices  than  a  year  ago,  and  the 
market  is  very  firm. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  changes  in  the  trade  in  the  past  five  years,  is  the  promi- 
nence and  success  attained  by  various  vineyard  brands.  Time  was  in  California  when  no 
such  brands  were  known  or  recognized.  The  various  shippers  and  merchants  sent  their 
■wines  to  their  customers  in  bulk,  and  the  customers  in  turn  did  the  bottling,  using  what 
labels  they  pleased.  Realizing  the  value  of  a  foreign  lal)el,  these  Eastern  buyers  and 
bottlers  placed  the  wines  of  California  under  foreign  labels.  The  extent  to  whicii  this 
deception  was  and  is  practiced,  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  in  the  United  Stnten  to-day  not 
to  exceed  one  tenth  of  the  wine  drank  is  of  foreign  origin.  This  statement  can  be  amply 
proved  by  reference  to  the  statistics  of  the  Treasury  Department  of  the  I'nited  States 
Government,  which  show  the  total  annual  imports  of  foreign  wines  into  the  country 
do  not  exceed  4,000,000  gallons,  while  the  annual  i)rodiiction  in  California  and  the  States 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  is  not  less  than  40,000,000  gallons. 

All  over  the  State  of  California,  however,  are  vineyardists  who  take  a  special  pride  in 
their  selected  wines,  who  bottle  their  best  products  under  their  own  labels,  and  who  sell 
their  wines  for  what  they  are.  Many  California  wine  merchants  are  also  doing  the 
'  same.  These  honest  bottlings  are  slowly  and  surely  making  their  way  throughout  the 
Union,  and  are  gradually  dissipating  the  prejudice  formerly  entertuine<l  against  domes- 
tic products. 

As  to  the  quality  of  California  wines,  it  may  be  said  that  their  average  quality  is  above 
the  average  of  either  the  French  or  German  wines  of  like  types;  and  that  there  are  well- 
9 


130  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

known  selected  growths  which  will  compare  favorably  with  the  selected  foreign  wines. 
It  is  not  claimed  that  the  acme  of  perfection  has  been,  or  will  soon  be,  reached,  but  it  is 
true  that  the  quality  is  such  as  to  command  the  respect  of  experts  and  connoisseurs,  as 
the  medals  awarded  at  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1889  amply  demonstrate. 

The  future  of  the  business  seems  bright.  Like  any  other  industry,  the  wine  industry 
of  California  has  had  its  reverses  and  its  successes,  but  it  is  established  on  a  firm  basis, 
and  the  prospects  for  profits  are  excellent. 

Brandy  distillation  is  likewise  on  a  firm  foundation.  The  annual  production  is  about 
2,000,000  gallons,  much  of  which  has  a  market  in  Germany  and  England,  and  the  rest  in 
the  Eastern  States.  The  quality  of  the  brandy  produced  has  much  improved  in  the 
recent  past,  and  producers  of  a  fair  to  choice  article  readily  sell  what  they  make. 

The  culture  of  the  wine  grape  and  the  making  of  wine  is  a  fascinating  pursuit,  and 
will  always  attract,  as  it  has  in  California,  intelligent  and  cultured  minds.  The  State 
fosters  the  industry  by  a  large  expenditure  of  money.  Nearly  every  known  variety  of 
wine  grape  is  growing  in  California,  experiments  are  continually  being  made  in  fer- 
mentation, the  literature  published  by  the  State  is  exhaustive,  and  every  opportunity 
offers  for  the  investment  of  capital  in  a  business  that  calls  for  the  highest  intelligence 
and  will  ultimately  yield  a  handsome  profit. 


DAIRYING   IN    CALIFORNIA. 

By  G.  G.  WicKSON,  of  San  Francisco. 

California  has  many  notable  advantages  for  the  dairy  farmer.  Her  animals  conn 
.to  profitable  maturity  sooner  than  in  regions  with  a  severe  winter;  they  enjoy  an  open- 
air  life  the  year  round,  and  are  healthier  than  cattle  held  for  months  in  stables,  ami 
owing  to  abundance  of  succulent  food  and  freedom  from  the  loss  of  food  materials  lo 
maintain  animal  heat  during  cold  winters,  both  the  growth  of  the  animal  and  the  yield 
of  milk  are  more  satisfactory  than  in  regions  with  a  northern  climate. 

Because  natural  conditions  were  so  favorable  dairying  was  carried  on  in  this  State 
for  many  years  with  less  trouble  and  less  investment  than  the  Eastern  dairyman  would 
have  believed  possible.  Profitable  dairy  enterprises  have  been  conducted  without  any 
shelter  whatever  for  the  cattle,  and  with  nothing  but  a  shed  roof  to  protect  the  dairy- 
machinery  and  appliances.  Such  dairy  practice  is  not  mentioned  as  desirable,  but  it  is 
indisputable  evidence  of  favoring  climatic  conditions.  It  has  been  found  here,  as  else- 
where, that  the  most  perfect  machinery  and  buildings,  the  most  scientific  system  in 
manufacturing,  and  the  most  humane  treatment  of  animals  are  all  profitable  to  the 
dairyman;  but  the  Californian,  having  a  genial  climate  to  work  under,  can  secure  the 
most  favorable  conditions  with  less  difficulty  and  expenditure  than  are  required  in  the 
older  dairy  regions.  His  buildings  do  not  need  to  be  made  tight  enough  to  exclude  cold, 
nor  strong  enough  to  sustain  heavy  snowfalls.  His  water  pipes  never  freeze,  and  his 
milk  and  cheese  rooms  very  seldom  need  any  artificial  heat. 

But  the  absence  of  severe  cold  is  not  the  only  advantage  of  the  California  climate. 
There  is  almost  as  great  benefit  in  the  absence  of  the  close,  "muggy  "  days  and  nights 
which  are  so  trying  to  animals  and  to  the  milk  after  it  reaches  the  factory.  Although 
the  temperature  sometimes  runs  high  in  California,  it  is  always  attended  by  a  dry  air, 
which  lessens  the  effect  of  heat,  both  upon  animals  and  perishable  products.  "Tainted" 
milk  is  rarely  met  with,  and  cheese  makers  of  long  experience  say  they  never  have  had 
a  "floating  curd"  in  California.  It  is  quite  possible  to  practice  the  "sweet  curd"  process 
continually,  because  the  milk  is  uniformly  sound.  The  same  condition  is,  of  course,  of 
inestimable  value  to  the  butter  maker.  Any  fair  handling  of  the  milk  insures  a  clean 
flavored  product.  This  is  the  case  even  with  the  old  fashioned  shallow-pan  setting  of 
milk.  Setting  shallow  is  the  best, rough  practice  in  this  State,  because  ice  is  high  priced 
and  cool  water  not  obtainable  for  deep  setting,  except  in  the  mountain  dairy  districts. 
Since  the  introduction  of  centrifugal  separators,  and  the  throwing  out  of  all  systems 
of  gravity  setting  by  our  most  progressive  dairymen,  butter  making  has  been  greatly 
simplified,  the  labor  decreased,  the  yield  increased,  and  the  dairyman  made  almost  inde- 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES.  131 

pendent  of  high  temperatures,  because  he  can  easily  cool  his  cream  can  and  his  butter, 
though  it  were  impracticable  to  cool  the  mass  of  the  milk  during  cream  rising. 

Probably  nowhere  else  in  the  world  is  all-the-year  dairying  so  easily  carried  on  as  in 
California.  The  natural  pasturage  season,  in  all  save  the  mountain  region  of  the  State, 
covers  the  winter  months.  On  the  coast  and  in  the  valleys  the  feed  starts  afresh  in  tho 
pastures  after  the  fall  rains  in  November.  Sometimes  there  is  ample  green  feed  from 
that  time  until  the  following  June.  Some  years  there  is  a  fall  and  early  winter  drought, 
so  that  feeding  has  to  be  pursued  more  or  less  until  February.  This  is,  however,  an  easy 
task  to  the  dairyman  who  has  enterprise  enough  to  provide  against  tiie  vicissitudes  of 
the  season.  Mangel  wurzel  seed  sown  on  moist  land  in  May  and  .Tune  produces  beets 
which  can  be  fed  from  the  field  all  winter.  Squash  grown  in  the  summer  can  bo 
stacked  in  the  open  air  without  injury.  Corn  fodder  can  be  siloed  for  fall  and  early 
winter  use,  or  rye  or  other  grain  sown  early  in  the  fall  can  be  cut  and  fed  green,  until 
the  natural  pasture  comes  into  good  condition.  Such  materials  as  these,  which  the 
dairyman  can  cheaply  grow  for  himself,  will  enable  him  to  largely  prevent  the  shrink- 
age of  milk  which  is  apt  to  come  as  the  pastures  dry  in  midsummer,  and  to  carry  the 
cattle  along,  if  there  should  be  a  late  start  of  grass  in  the  fall.  In  addition  to  home- 
grown food  supplies,  the  enterprising  dairyman  will  also  make  liberal  use  of  bran,  oil 
meal,  and  other  mill  feeds,  because  good  cows  always  return  a  profit  upon  liberal 
expenditure  for  good  food. 

Though  the  early  dairying  in  California  proceeded  upon  the  natural  grasses  alone, 
the  industry  has  been  greatly  benefited  and  extended  by  the  introduction  of  good 
forage  plants.  The  king  of  the  introduced  forage  plants  is  alfalfa,  the  Spanish  name 
for  lucerne  (Medicago  saliva),  which  was  brought  here  in  an  early  day  from  Chile.  In 
the  warm  valleys  of  the  State,  with  land  either  naturally  moist  or  irrigated,  this  grand 
clover  makes  a  growth  of  surprising  weight  and  richness,  and  stimulates  a  great  yield  of 
milk.  The  same  number  of  acres  will  probably  carry  more  cows  on  this  plant  than  with 
any  other  in  the  world.  Fed  green  or  as  hay,  it  will  support  cows  the  year  round,  and 
being  of  high  proteine  contents,  is  directly  adapted  to  flesh-forming  and  milk-making. 
Alfalfa  dairying  is  one  of  the  chief  branches  of  the  industry  in  the  State. 

The  dairy  industry  of  California  has  notably  advanced  during  the  last  few  years. 
The  building  of  creameries  has  begun,  and  the  export  of  the  product  to  distant  markets 
is  in  progress.  There  seems  to  be  a  great  opportunity  for  the  extension  of  this  manu- 
facture and  trade.  All  around  the  Pacific  Ocean  are  countries  which  are  now  being 
supplied  with  canned  butter  from  the  dairy  regions  of  northern  Europe.  Such  markets 
should  be  supplied  from  California,  and  if  the  same  exact  methods  of  manufacture  and 
packing,  which  are  relied  upon  in  northern  Europe  to  secure  good  shipping  butter,  are 
introduced  here,  the  result  will  unquestionably  be  satisfactory.  This  export  field, 
coupled  with  the  growing  demand  from  our  fast  increasing  local  population,  justify  a 
considerable  extension  of  the  California  dairy  industry. 

During  the  past  year  a  number  of  large  creameries  and  a  large  number  of  smaller 
ones  have  been  built  and  equipped  with  the  very  latest  improved  machinery  and  api)li- 
ances,  and  the  output  from  these  creameries  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  both  in  quality 
and  quantity.  Some  of  the  largest  creameries,  located  in  the  older  and  most  populous 
coast  counties,  have  demonstrated  chiefly  the  advantages  of  improved  methods  and 
uniformity  of  product,  while  other  creameries,  located  farther  in  the  interior,  have  not 
only  accomplished  the  results  mentioned  above,  but  are  largely  and  rapidly  developing 
the  dairy  industry,  where  but  very  few  cows,  comparatively,  were  being  milked  before. 

With  such  marked  advantages  in  the  way  of  climate,  feed,  and  favorable  local  con- 
ditions, the  dairy  interest  in  California  cannot  fail  of  wonderful  development. 

Note.— The  above  article  was  contributed  by  Mr.  G.  G.  Wickson,  of  San  Francisco,  who  has  had 
a  wide  experience  in  dairying  and  is  a  dealer  in  improved  dairy  machinery.  Ills  stalemoiits 
are  conservative.  The  Assessors  report  in  the  State  3,.%9  thoroughbred  cows,  171,010  Americiin 
cows,  4U,050  graded  cows,  and  44,510  common  cows,  but  the  number  of  milch  cows  is  not  reported. 
It  is  difficult  to  state  the  amount  of  butter  and  cheese  produced  in  the  Slate,  but  that  the  field  is 
not  occupied  is  apparent  when  it  appears  that  we  imported  in  1H92  from  the  East  1  ..''lOO.iHW 
pounds  of  butter.  It  is  the  experience  of  dairymen  that,  owing  to  absence  of  heat,  Irritating 
insects,  and  the  long  season  of  pasturage,  more  milk  is  obtained  from  a  cow  than  In  the  Kast. 
Two  to  four  cows  to  the  acre  can  be  kept  on  alfalfa  fields.  JJairy  land,  fully  equipped  with  cows 
and  utensils,  rents  for  from  |20  to  $25  per  acre.-EniTOU. 


132  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

IRRIGATION  m  CALIFORNIA. 

Contributed  by  Geo.  F.  Weeks,  Editor  of  "  The  Californian." 

Probably  no  feature  of  the  marvelous  development  of  the  Golden  State,  and  of  late 
years  the  rest  of  the  commonwealths  of  the  Pacific  Slope,  bears  a  greater  interest  to  the 
Eastern  immigrant,  home-seeker,  or  visitor  than  the  irrigation  system,  which  has 
reached  its  greatest  development  in  the  counties  which  have  come  to  be  known  as  the 
citrus  belt  of  Southern  California,  and  incidentally,  as  the  garden  spot  of  the  earth. 
To  the  uninitiated  the  stories  of  how  bare  and  seemingly  desert  wastes  have  been  trans- 
formed into  the  present  very  much-in-evidence  bowers  of  floral  beauty  and  stately  vistas 
of  orange,  lemon,  and  other  semi-tropical  foliage  within  the  short  span  of  a  decade  or  two 
by  little  trickling  streams  of  water  led  over  the  thirsty  soil,  are  exceedingly  hard  to 
believe,  and  in  many  instances  the  narrator  of  the  facts  is  looked  upon  with  suspicion 
until  added  experience  shall  have  amply  proved  to  the  newcomer  that  the  stories  he 
has  been  told  are  fully  borne  out  by  facts. 

In  the  city  of  Riverside,  where  irrigation  has  reached  its  greatest  degree  of  perfec- 
tion, and  which  may  almost  claim  to  be  the  originator  of  the  system  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia, is  to  be  found  the  most  conspicuous  example  of  wliat  faith,  determination,  and 
intelligent  effort  may  produce.  One  incident,  which  happened  within  the  writer's  own 
experience,  will  show  the  marvelous  results,  both  in  the  increase  in  land  values  and 
desirability  as  a  place  of  residence,  the  life-giving  water  accomplished  within  the  space  of 
two  years'  time.  One  mile  east  of  a  fruitful  settlement  whose  lands  were  irrigated,  was 
an  immense  tract  of  exactly  the  same  kind  of  land,  totally  bare  of  vegetation,  and  appar- 
ently as  worthless  as  ever  the  sun  shone  upon.  A  section  of  this  land  was  preempted 
under  the  Desert  Land  Act  of  the  United  States  by  a  relative  of  the  writer.  A  shaft  was 
sunk  108  feet  deep,  but  no  water  was  obtained.  Becoming  discouraged  the  owner  sold 
his  rights  to  a  capitalist,  who,  eight  miles  away,  sunk  a  system  of  artesian  wells,  and 
brought  the  water  to  the  barren  section  and  upon  other  sections  of  similar  land  adjoining. 
With  the  advent  of  the  water,  the  land  jumped  in  selling  value  from  less  than  $1  an 
acre  to  $350,  $450,  and  even  $600  per  acre.  It  is  now  covered  with  typical  Riverside 
homes,  embowered  in  flowers  and  surrounded  by  evergreen  orchards,  while  time  after 
time  lands  in  the  same  tract  have  since  changed  hands  at  from  $1,000  to  $2,000  per  acre 
after  being  improved  with  suburban  homes  and  orange  groves.  There  are  hundreds  of 
locations  in  California  to-day  where  this  very  experience  will  be  repeated  in  the  years  to 
come,  and  gigantic  schemes  to  reclaim  millions  of  acres  are  even  now  in  process  of  com- 
pletion in  various  counties  of  California,  Arizona,  and  Nevada. 

The  first  irrigation  done  in  California  was  carried  on  by  the  padres  of  the  old 
]\Iissions  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  centurj',  and  in  spite  of  the  decay  and  desola- 
tion, which  are  prominent  features  of  the  Missions  to-day,  the  remains  of  many  of 
the  old  acequias  and  ditches  may  still  be  traced.  Great  canal  and  reservoir  systems,  or 
more  properly  speaking,  their  ruins,  are  still  found  in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico, 
together  with  traces  of  the  prehistoric  peoples  who  inhabited  the  deserts  of  that  section 
when  they  were  undoubtedly  highly  cultivated  farms,  orchards,  and  vineyards.  In 
spite  of  the  ancient  uses  of  water  for  irrigation  it  has  only  been  within  the  past  twenty- 
five  years  that  Americans  have  taken  it  up,  and  brought  it  to  its  present  high  state  of 
development.  Originally  the  supplies  of  water  were  derived  from  running  streams  that 
were  diverted  with  ease  from  their  natural  channels.  No  expensive  dams  were  built, 
but  the  water  was  turned  from  its  channel  in  the  easiest  and  cheapest  manner  possible. 
In  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  where  there  was,  of  course,  the  greatest  necessity  for 
irrigation  on  account  of  the  limited  rainfall,  streams  which  could  be  handled  in  this 
way  were  not  numerous  nor  did  many  carry  a  great  volume  of  water.  This  fact  led  to 
experiments  in  the  search  for  artesian  wells. 

The  first  successful  artesian  well  is  said  to  have  been  struck  in  Santa  Clara  County 
about  forty  years  ago.  The  greatest  development  in  this  direction,  however,  has  been 
within  the  past  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  and  at  present  there  are  several  thousand  wells  of 
this  character  in  various  portions  of  the  State.  Kern,  Tulare,  Los  Angeles,  and  San 
Bernardino  Counties  lead  in  the  number  of  artesian  wells  and  area  irrigated  thereby. 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HKK     HKSOURCES.  133 


One  well  in  Kern  County  is  said  to  yield  from  2,(iO<,1,aX)  to  2,500,000  >,'allona  daily.  In  San 
Bernardino  County  is  the  most  remarkable  artesian  belt  in  the  State,  containing  several 
hundred  wells.  They  range  in  depth  from  100  to  300  feet,  and  the  amount  of  water 
obtained,  of  course,  varies  with  the  diameter  of  the  pipe.  Krom  some  of  the  well.s  in 
this  belt  comes  the  water  to  irrigate  the  lands  at  Riverside  referred  to  above.  Tliey  nro 
from  four  to  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and  the  average  daily  (low  is  tliirty-tliree  miner's 
inches.  The  sight  of  one  of  those  wells  in  full  How  is  oneto  draw  enthusiasm  from  the 
most  apathetic  observer. 

In  some  sections  another  method  of  obtaining  water  for  irrigation  is  that  of  tnnnel- 
inu'  into  the  hills  or  mountains  where  a  spring  denotes  the  presence  of  an  imprisoned 
body  of  water.  Some  streams  of  considerable  size  have  been  developed  by  tliis  metiiud. 
Many  of  the  streams  of  California  in  the  summer  season,  when  tiie  water  is  needed  for 
irrigation,  sink  through  the  bed  of  sand  and  course  along  on  the  bedrock.  Some  of 
these  streams  have  been  successfully  raised  to  the  surface  and  diverted  upon  irrigable 
lands,  by  building  a  dam  with  its  base  resting  upon  the  bedrock  and  extending  uj)ward 
to  the  surface,  thereby  forcing  the  water  to  rise  to  the  top  of  the  channel  and  to  (low 
into  the  ditches  prepared  for  its  reception.  Pumping  with  windmills  and  steam  pumps 
is  also  resorted  to  upon  a  limited  scale. 

But  the  most  important  and  successful  system  in  the  reclamation  of  vast  tracts  in 
the  past,  and  which  will  prove  the  salvation  of  other  large  areas  in  the  future,  is  that 
of  impounding  the  rains  of  the  winter  season  in  reservoirs  formed  in  most  instances  by 
building  dams  across  the  outlets  of  natural  depressions  or  gorges  in  the  mountains,  from 
whence  the  water  is  diverted  as  necessity  requires  upon  the  fertile  valley  lands  miles 
below.  Just  ten  years  ago  the  first  work  was  done  on  the  immense  stone  dam  wlucli 
holds  the  water  of  the  Bear  Valley  reservoir  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Santa  Ana  River, 
and  since  then  vast  sums  have  been  expended  in  similar  enterprises.  This  reservoir  is 
a  mountain  valley  6,000  feet  above  the  sea,  from  the  lower  end  of  which  daslied  a  rush- 
ing mountain  torrent.  At  this  point  the  walls  of  the  valley  came  together  and  there 
the  dam  was  built  in  the  form  of  an  arch  from  one  side  of  the  rocky  gorge  to  the  other, 
the  ends  buttressed  into  the  solid  rock  of  the  caiion.  The  radius  of  the  arch  is  335  feet, 
its  height  64  feet,  and  its  thickness  20  feet  at  the  base  and  3  feet  at  the  top.  Sufficient 
water  is  stored  to  cover  an  area  of  2,812  acres,  amounting  to  20,000,000,000  gallons.  The 
region  supplied  with  water  from  this  reservoir  consists  of  several  thousand  acres  in  San 
Bernardino,  Riverside,  and  San  Diego  Counties.  A  very  similar  dam,  but  much  more 
elaborate  in  construction,  is  built  a  few  miles  southeast  of  the  city  of  San  Diego,  forming 
the  Sweetwater  reservoir.  It  supplies  the  water  for  the  irrigation  of  a  large  section 
of  country  between  San  Diego  and  the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and 
Lower  California. 

Another  reservoir  of  note,  but  of  a  different  type,  is  that  of  the  Crocker-Huffman 
canal  system  at  Merced.  This  is  a  natural  depression,  and  the  basin  was  converted  into 
a  reservoir  by  the  construction  of  an  earthen  embankment  4,000  feet  long.  It  is  275  feet 
thick  at  the  base  and  20  feet  at  the  crown,  with  a  maximum  height  of  51  feet.  This  reser- 
voir impounds  5,500,000,000  gallons.  Those  mentioned,  together  with  the  immense  cana! 
systems  of  Kern  and  Tulare  Counties,  are  the  largest  in  the  West,  and  are  great  factors 
in  the  material  development  of  the  State.  Some  of  the  canals  of  Kern  and  Tulare  are 
125  to  140  feet  wide,  and  more  closely  resemble  rivers  than  artificial  watercourses. 

When  the  American  horticulturist  first  began  to  use  water  for  irrigation  he  found 
the  most  primitive  methods  and  processes  for  distribution  in  use.  The  water  was 
turned  upon  the  land  and  allowed  to  run  whither  it  would,  with  what  little  direction  the 
workman  felt  disposed  to  bestow  upon  it.  This  system  worked  all  right  enough, 
perhaps,  when  water  was  plentiful  and  cheap,  on  account  of  the  limited  number  of 
people  using  it,  but  with  settlement  a  better  system  had  to  be  devised.  Tlie  method 
then  was  to  plow  furrows  alongside  the  rows  of  trees  and  down  the  center  of  the  spaces 
between,  into  which  the  water  was  turned  from  the  open  ditch  at  the  head  of  the  tract 
running  at  right  angles  to  the  lateral  ditches,  a  man  regulating  the  (low  with  a  hoe  or 
shovel  and  keeping  the  water  flowing  slowly  in  the  ditches  until  the  ground  was 
thoroughly  soaked  on  either  side.  This  method  is  practiced  almost  entirely  in  many 
sections  to  this  dav,  and  is  considered  by  some  irrigationists  to  be  the  best,  all  things 
considered,  when  the  water  is  plentiful  enough.   But  the  seepage  into  gopher  and  s<iuirrel 


134 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


holes,  and  the  evaporation  and  waste  in  other  ways,  have  necessitated  in  many  sections 
the  substitution  of  pipes  and  hydrants  in  the  orchard  and  a  system  of  basins  about  each 
tree. 

While  many  of  the  main  canals  and  ditches  are  cemented  or  paved  with  concrete, 
where  the  system  of  open  conduits  prevails,  pipes  will  of  necessity  take  their  place  as  the 
water  becomes  more  precious  and  a  larger  area  is  to  be  covered.  With  experience  has 
come  also  the  knowledge  that  much  less  water  is  required  for  the  perfect  growth  of 
plant  life  than  was  thought  necessary  in  former  days,  so  that  by  American  ingenuity 
and  intelligent  study  it  has  become  possible  to  convert  desert  spots  into  garden  plots, 
which  even  so  late  as  ten  years  ago  were  considered  not  even  fit  to  pasture  sheep  upon. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  value  of  irrigation  and  the  effect  it  has  had  upon  public 
prosperity  in  California,  a  statement  of  the  increase  in  taxable  values  is  interesting. 
In  the  four  counties  of  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  and  three  counties  in  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley,  where  the  irrigation  system  is  not  highly  developed,  the  increase  in 
twelve  years  was  as  follows: 


Real  Estate. 

Improvements. 

1880. 

1892. 

1880. 

1802. 

$10,477,432 

$47,819,620 
6,428,030 
14,571,300 
19,245,803 
31,028,305 
8,326,048 
18,613,739 

$3,033,059 

$15,822,920 

1,616,140 

1,669,007 
1,307,302 
3,795,415 
2,166,755 
1,949,929 

586,577 
341,948 
520,085 
524,071 
1,863,226 

5,181,430 

San  Diego 

4,608,505 

Fresno 

5,371,608 

Kern                         

1,134,417 

2,378,928 

Totals                      - 

$21,365,840 

$146,052,845 

$6,868,966 

$36,113,948 

*ln  1880  Orange  formed  part  of  Los  Angeles  County. 

Note.— As  the  Governor  has  stated  in  the  introduction,  the  question  of  irrigation  needs  to  be 
understood  in  the  East.  In  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  and  some  parts  of  Southern  California,  irriga- 
tion is  an  absolute  necessity,  but  in  the  central  counties  it  is  not,  except  for  citrus  fruits.  The 
major  part  of  the  fruit  shipped  from  California  is  raised  without  irrigation.  Cultivation,  which 
conserves  the  moisture,  takes  the  place  of  irrigation.  It  all  depends  on  the  amount  of  the  rain- 
fall and  the  power  of  the  soil  to  retain  the  moisture.  There  is  no  doubt  that  irrigation  increases 
the  yield.  Irrigation  is  not  a  prime  factor  in  all  California;  it  is  only  necessary  in  certain  sections 
where  the  rainfall  is  deficient.  Major  J.  W.  Powell,  of  the  Geological  Survey,  says:  "The  most 
highly  developed  agriculture  of  the  world  is  now  found  in  California."  In  California  $13,000,000 
has  been  spent  on  irrigation  works  and  right  of  way.  According  to  the  census  report  there  are 
13,732  irrigators,  irrigating  1,004,233  acres.    Since  then  the  numbers  have  increased.— Editor. 


CALIFORNIA  PETROLEUM  AND  ASPHALTUM. 


Since  anything  has  been  well  understood  concerning  California  it  has  been  known 
that  petroleum  and  its  residuum,  asphaltum,  were  among  the  products  of  the  State. 
The  abundance  of  asphaltum  was  evident,  but  it  is  only  by  recent  experiments  that 
the  richness  of  the  oil  deposits  has  been  ascertained. 

Attempts  to  develop  oil  were  made  at  Santa  Barbara  as  early  as  1865.  They  were 
unsuccessful,  and  nothing  mtich  was  done  in  this  direction  until  1876.  In  the  meantime, 
it  had  been  observed  that  there  were  several  oil  "  breaks  "  in  the  State.  These  may  be 
defined  as  the  Northern,  Central,  and  Southern  "  breaks."  The  first  is  in  Humboldt 
County,  and  as  little  work  has  been  done  there,  its  value  is  not  well  defined.  The  second 
is  in  Santa  Cruz  County,  extending  along  the  coast  into  Monterey  and  San  Luis  Obispo, 
and  thence  over  the  Coast  Eange  of  mountains  into  Fresno  and  Kern  Counties.  The 
most  successful  work  on  this  has  been  done  in  Kern,  near  Bakersfield.  The  third, 
and,  so  far  as  known,  richest  deposit,  begins  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  runs  through 
Ventura  County,  extends  over  into  Los  Angeles  County,  and  is  lost  in  the  desert  beyond 
San  Bernardino.    They  all  trend  southeasterly  from  some  point  near  the  ocean. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HKU     KKSOUUCKS.  135 

The  oil  from  Tico  Canon,  near  Xewhall.  is  light  f,'ravity,  bnt  that  from  Hrca  dinon, 
near  Puente,  in  Los  Angeles  County,  is  very  heavy,  some  of  it  being  semi-asphalt  urn. 
The  wells  at  the  latter  place,  near  the  bottom  of  the  cafion,  are  shallow,  not  niDre  than 
50  feet  deep,  and  yield  about  5  barrels  each  per  day;  but  as  wells  have  been  sunk  in  the 
face  of  the  sides  of  the  cafion,  they  have  increased  in  depth  the  nearer  they  arc  to  the 
crest,  and  they  have  also  increased  in  yield,  while  the  oil  is  less  dense. 

There  are  22  wells  now  in  this  canon;  a  "dry  hole  "  has  never  been  struck.  Kvery 
well  is  now  yielding  as  much  as  when  first  bored,  the  total  output  being  about  200 
barrels  per  day.  It  is  a  heavy  oil,  at  best,  and  is  nearly  all  used  for  fuel  purposes  in 
Los  Angeles,  where  it  sells  for  $2  per  barrel.  The  semi-asphaltum  from  the  sliallow 
wells  is  worth  $5  per  barrel  for  coating  water  and  gas  pipes  and  the  ends  of  posts  that 
go  below  the  ground. 

The  Pacific  Coast  Oil  Company  has  in  Pico  Cafion,  perhaps,  40  wells;  the  oil-bearing 
stratum  is  350  to  785  feet  thick.  The  wells  struck  fifteen  years  ago  are  still  yielding  aa 
largely  as  when  first  bored.  One  well,  in  a  strip  of  land  8,50  by  3,800  feet,  has  yielded 
1,500,000  barrels  of  oil.  Another  well  has  yielded  .300,000  barrels  of  oil;  both  are  still 
as  good  yielders  as  at  first.  The  oil  belt  here  is  8  miles  long,  and  all  seemingly  of  even 
richness.  The  output  now  is  about  400  barrels  a  day.  It  is  shipped  to  Alameda  Point, 
near  San  Francisco,  where  it  is  refined  for  illuminating  purposes,  the  oil  being  very  light. 
Only  a  beginning  has  been  made  in  this  oil-boring  enterprise.  The  Southern  "break" 
is  over  250  miles  long.  For  100  miles  between  Santa  Barbara  and  Newhall  oil  derricks 
line  the  road  all  the  way.  Every  well  thus  far  bored  is  still  a  yielder,  not  one  having 
gone  dry.  The  Union  Oil  Company  has  one  which  is  estimated  to  have  yielded  400,000 
barrels.  The  California  wells  are  not  nearly  so  deep  as  those  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
range  at  from  a  few  feet  to  3,000  feet  deep.    The  average  depth  is  from  800  to  1,200  feet. 

The  success  of  these  ventiares  was  so  well  known  by  1885  that  a  great  stimulus  was 
given  the  industry,  and  since  then  hundreds  of  oil  claims  have  been  made  between 
Santa  Barbara  and  ISTewhall,  and  a  score  of  companies  are  at  work.  The  most  important 
of  these  is  the  Union  Oil  Company,  whose  headquarters  are  at  Santa  Paula,  Ventura 
County.  This  company  controls  a  very  large  amount  of  territory  and  has  a  great 
many  wells  in  successful  operation.  The  output  is  probably  700  barrels  a  day.  The 
smaller  concerns  combined  get  about  350  barrels  a  day.  If  we  add  the  figures  we  now 
have,  it  will  appear  that  this  southern  oil  belt  is  yielding  40,000  barrels  of  oil  a  month, 
or  about  500,000  per  annum.  Three  years  ago  the  output  in  all  the  territory  was  only 
1,000  barrels,  and  two  years  ago  only  1,,300. 

The  oil  in  the  Union  Company  borings  might  be  used  for  fuel  or  illuminating,  as  some 
is  heavy  and  some  very  light,  but  the  company  has  preferred  to  convert  the  product  of 
their  wells  into  lubricants,  ink,  and  other  manufactured  products  that  add  manifold 
to  its  value. 

The  California  oil  differs  radically  from  that  of  Pennsylvania,  as  its  residuum  is 
asphaltum  instead  of  parafine.  It  is  this  quality  which  makes  our  oil  so  valuable  for 
varnishes,  lubricants,  and  inks.  Other  products  are  made  at  the  laboratory  at  Santa 
Paula,  but  their  nature  is  kfept  secret  until  such  time  as  they  are  perfected  and  ready  to 
put  on  the  market.  One  is  known  to  be  a  fabric  that  may  be  used  for  oilcloth,  as  it  is 
impervious  to  water.  Another  is  tubes  in  which  electric  wires  may  be  run.  The  black 
ink  produced  is  of  high  excellence,  and  is  used  to  print  the  San  Francisco  "E.xaminer  " 
and  the  Los  Angeles  " Times  "  and  " Express."  The  "Examiner  "  takes  15,000  pounds 
per  month. 

The  asphaltum  deposits  are  nearly  as  valuable  as  those  of  oil.  They  exist  in  prac- 
tically inexhaustible  quantities.  Prof.  E.  W.  llilgard,  of  the  State  University,  has 
written  to  Henry  Yillard  that  in  three  miles  of  territory  in  Ojai  Valley,  Ventura 
County,  there  are  1,000,000  tons  of  asphaltum.  Last  year  tliere  were  shipped  from  tiie 
State  50,000  tons  of  this  product.  It  is  used  for  street  purposes  in  many  cities.  Most  of 
that  used  in  the  United  States  comes  from  Trinidad.  The  United  States  Consul  at  that 
point,  in  his  report  October,  1892,  shows  that  in  seven  years— 1885  to  1891— there  were 
shipped  from  there  to  New  York  10,0G2  tons  of  refined  asphaltum  and  274,467  tons  of 
raw.    The  California  product  is  in  all  respects  fully  equal  to  the  imported. 

The  definite  location  of  the  oil  belts  and  the  certainty  of  the  yield  make  this  industry 
one  of  the  most  inviting  fields  for  the  investment  of  capital. 


136  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

THE  SUGAR   BEET  IN   CALIFORNIA. 

By  Richard  Gird,  of  Chino,  San  Bernardino  County. 

The  sugar  beet  is  a  native  of  the  semi-tropical  lands  bordering  the  northern  shores 
of  the  Mediterranean.  After  having  migrated,  as  an  edible  plant,  through  southern 
Europe,  and  as  far  north  as  Germany  and  France,  it  was  taken  by  the  people  of  those 
countries  as  the  most  available  plant  to  secrete  from  the  elements  the  hydro-carbon 
called  sugar.  During  the  last  one  hundred  years  the  beet  has  been  improved  from  an 
average  of  5  and  6  per  cent  of  sugar  to  12  and  15  per  cent,  and  has  at  last  become  the 
most  important  sugar-producing  plant  in  the  world. 

In  America,  experiments  have  been  carried  on  for  many  3'ears  to  ascertain  whether 
the  sugar  beet  could  be  adapted  to  the  climate,  soils,  and  conditions  existing  here. 
Finally,  in  the  course  of  its  migration,  it  was  brought  by  some  enterprising  parties  to 
California,  the  climate  of  which  is  semi-tropical,  exactly  corresi^onding  with  that  of  its 
nativity — the  northern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  Here,  the  cultivation  has  proved 
an  unqualified  success  from  the  first,  and  has  only  needed  such  mechanical  and  chem- 
ical knowledge  to  make  it  very  profitable,  both  to  the  agriculturist  and  the  sugar  manu- 
facturer. The  experiments  carried  on  in  this  State  the  past  few  years  have  proved  that 
the  sugar  beet  is  not  only  a  remunerative  crop  to  the  farmer,  placing  him  beyond  the 
fluctuations  of  market  for  his  product,  but  giving  him  a  diversified  industrj-  which 
compels  a  thorough  cultivation,  increasing  the  products  of  the  soil  for  other  crops,  and 
the  value  of  the  land  from  the  fact  of  the  enhanced  value  of  the  sugar  beet  crop. 

California,  last  year,  produced  22,000,000  pounds  of  sugar— more  than  double  the 
amount  produced  the  previous  season.  A  good  deal  of  this  increase  came  from  the 
Chino  sugar  beet  plantation  and  factory,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  where,  probably, 
the  conditions  and  results  are  as  satisfactory  as  in  any  other  place  where  the  sugar  beet 
has  ever  been  grown. 

Capital  stands  ready  to  take  up  the  erection  of  sugar  factories,  at  least  in  all  the 
valleys  of  Southern  California,  if  not  in  the  State.  The  only  thing  necessary  is  to 
satisfy  the  capitalist  that  he  would  be  assured  of  a  sufficient  amount  of  beets  to  keep 
his  factory  running  at  its  full  capacitj'  during  the  ordinary  sugar-making  season,  from 
August  1st  to  December  1st.  There  is  no  reason  why  the  deep  alluvial,  semi-alkaline 
soils  of  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  Valleys,  as  well  as  all  the  deep  alluvial  valleys 
of  the  Coast  Range,  particularly  in  Southern  California,  should  not  raise  sugar  beets  to 
perfection.  The  results  on  the  Chino  plantation  last  year  were,  that  we  obtained  the 
remarkable  sugar  percentage  of  15  per  cent  plus,  average,  and  a  maximum  of  22  per 
cent;  of  this  latter  percentage  we  had  many  loads  delivered  direct  from  the  fields  into 
the  factory.  Experiments  were  conducted  by  me  for  three  years,  in  which  beets  were 
planted  in  many  different  places,  of  many  different  varieties,  and  were  constantly 
analyzed  by  myself,  so  that  when  the  factory  was  built  it  was  no  speculation,  as  we 
knew  just  what  could  be  done. 

One  of  the  great  advantages  derived  by  the  beet  grower  and  sugar  manufacturer,  from 
the  favorable  conditions  and  climate  of  California,  is  that  the  length  of  the  season  will 
enable  the  beets  to  ripen  much  earlier  than  in  Europe,  or  the  north  temperate  portions 
of  the  United  States.  This  gives  a  much  longer  season  for  harvesting  and  manufactur- 
ing, thereby  enabling  a  factory  of  a  given  capacity  to  produce  a  corresponding  output 
of  sugar  for  the  capital  invested,  and  the  farmer  to  harvest  his  beets  without  danger  of 
rain  or  frost  and  those  many  climatic  disadvantages  and  annoyances  that  affect  the 
industry  in  colder  regions.  Moreover,  here,  the  beets  can  be  worked  direct  from  the 
fields  into  the  factory,  giving  much  better  results,  and  saving  all  the  expense  and  trouble 
of  siloing  and  handling,  which  have  to  be  done  in  the  cold  climates  of  Europe  and  the 
north  temperate  zone  of  the  United  States. 

Appended  are  certain  statistics  which  will  show  that  California  can  build  and  main- 
tain three  hundred  factories  of  the  capacity  of  the  one  at  Chino  (600  tons  of  beets  per 
day),  and  what  thej'  would  add  to  the  revenue  of  the  State. 

The  annual  consumption  of  sugar  in  the  United  States  being  3,575,000,000  pounds, 
would  warrant  the  erection  of  three  hundred  factories  like  the  one  at  Chino,  estimating 


Olive  Tkek. 


CALIFORNIA  AND  HER  RESOURCES.  137 

the  output  of  that  at  12,000,000  pounds.  This  would  represent  the  investment  of  about 
$150,000,000  of  permanent  capital  on  this  coast,  with  a  saving  to  the  country  of  over 
that  amount  in  cash  sent  abroad  for  the  purchase  of  foreign  sugar,  and  a  distribution 
among  our  farmers,  laborers,  and  mechanics  of  an  amount  etiual  in  value  to  the 
quantity  of  suj^ar  manufactured,  probably  $UO,000,000.  The  beet  sugar  industry  would 
thus  become  the  most  important  agricultural  interest  on  the  I'acitic  Coast. 

The  annual  amount  of  sugar  consumed  per  capita  in  the  United  States  has  increased 
from  2G  pounds,  in  the  year  1851,  to  55  pounds  in  1S92.  At  the  present  time  180,000,000 
pounds  of  sugar  per  annum  are  used  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  or  about  70  pounds  per  cai)ita, 
the  existing  factories  only  supplying  one  ninth  of  the  amount  consumed. 

The  consumption  of  sugar,  in  pounds  per  capita,  for  the  principal  countries  of  the 
•world,  during  the  year  1887,  was,  according  to  Government  statistical  reports:  Finland, 
1.32;  Roumania,  3.30;  Servia,  4.40;  Spain,  5.11;  Italy,  7.59;  Russia,  9.02;  Portugal,  «.r)5; 
Norway,  11.35;  Austria  and  Hungary,  12.10;  German  Empire,  18.92;  Belgium,  15.71; 
Sweden,  17.19;  France,  27.06;  Switzerland,  22.77;  Holland,  23.10;  Denmark,  29.G3;  Argen- 
tine Republic,  49.94;  Great  Britain,  70.40. 

The  total  product  of  the  beet  sugar  factories  in  the  United  States  for  the  season  of 
1892  is  as  follows: 

PouikIs. 

Norfolk  Beet  Sugar  Company,  Nebraska l,<;!)><.l(i(i 

Oxnard  Beet  Sugar  Company,  Nebraska 2,110, KM) 

Utah  Beet  Company,  Utah 1,47;{,.')()0 

Chino  Valley  Company,  California 7,9().{,54l 

Alameda  Company,  California 2,.'3(X),S60 

Western  Sugar  Company,  California 11,.390,921 

Total -- - 27,083,322 

A  comparison  of  1891  and  1892  by  localities  shows  the  greatest  increase  in  pro- 
duction was  in  California: 


1891— 
Pounds. 

1892— 
Pounds. 

Utah                                                                               --- 

1,094,900 
8,175,438 
2,634,500 

1,473,500 

21,801,.322 

3,808,500 

The  production  of  beet  sugar  in  Europe  for  the  season  of  1892-93  was  6,804,000,000 
pounds,  an  increase  over  1883-84  of  2,082,000,000  pounds.  The  use  of  beet  sugar  over 
cane  sugar  is  constantly  increasing,  the  increase  in  1892  being  1,218,000,000  pounds.  The 
field  for  the  production  and  marketing  of  beet  sugar  challenges  the  imagination.  Three 
hundred  factories,  allowing  5,000  acres  to  the  factory,  would  make  an  acreage  of  1,500,000, 
or  2,344  square  miles  of  territory,  which  is  a  very  small  proportion  of  the  alluvial  valley 
lands  of  California,  that  are  particularly  and  specially  adapted  to  sugar  beet  culture. 
There  is  no  reason,  therefore,  why  California  should  not  produce  all  the  sugar  for  the 
United  States. 

Much  has  been  written  in  Germany  and  Europe  about  the  necessary  amount  of  rain- 
fall, temperature,  etc.,  all  of  which  we  find  to  be  practically  reversed  in  California.  The 
sugar  beet  is  naturally  a  dry  climate  plant;  its  tap-root  goes  deep  into  the  ground  for 
moisture  and  nutriment. 

The  proof  of  all  that  I  have  claimed  in  this  article  is  substantiated  by  the  fact  that, 
in  spite  of  our  high  cost  of  labor,  we  are  able  to  deliver  beets  to  the  factory  at  a  less  cost 
than  is  possible  either  in  Europe  or  in  the  other  sugar-producing  States  of  tiie  Union. 
All  that  is  necessary  to  make  sugar  beet  culture  the  first  great  industry  of  tiie  Pacific 
Coast  is  to  disseminate  a  knowledge  of  the  business  and  the  i>ractical  results  already 
obtained.  The  following  is  a  brief  statement  of  what  can  be  done  on  the  Chino  Ranch, 
conditions  being  about  the  average: 

The  average  tonnage  per  acre  last  season  was  15;  the  average  price  that  will  be  paid 
by  the  factory  this  year  is  .$5  j.er  ton;  the  average  cost  of  production  is  |25  per  acre;  so 
that  the  average  net  profit  will  be  $50  per  acre. 


138  CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES, 

The  cost  of  production  has  been  very  materiallj^  reduced  in  the  last  year,  and  we 
hope  this  season,  with  the  help  of  labor-saving  machinery,  to  reduce  it  to  at  least  $20  per 
acre.  This  may  seem  low  to  beet  raisers  in  the  other  parts  of  the  State,  but  there  have 
been  actual  contracts  made  this  year  by  beet  farmers  with  others,  to  prepare  the  land, 
seed,  thin,  weed,  and  cultivate,  for  $10  50  per  acre;  this,  with  the  cost  of  harvesting,  $12 
per  acre,  would  bring  the  cost  of  production  to  $22  50  per  acre. 

I  am  willing  to  give  instructions  to  all  who  desire  to  engage  in  this  industry. 


MINING  FOR  THE  PRECIOUS  METALS. 

The  history  of  mining  in  the  State  is  briefly  comprehended  in  the  fact  that  from 
January  1,  1849,  to  January  1,  1892,  the  product  of  its  gold  mines  has  added  $1,250,000,000 
to  the  bullion  wealth  of  the  world,  and  the  best  warrant  for  its  future  lies  in  the  assur- 
ance that  a  still  larger  amount  remains  yet  to  be  mined. 

Almost  every  county  of  the  State  has  produced  more  or  less  of  the  precious  metals, 
though  the  greatest  original  producing  districts,  whether  of  quartz  or  auriferous  gravel, 
still  remain  the  chief  sources  of  supply.  Rich  paying  placers  were  originally  worked 
along  the  banks  of  streams  in  almost  every  mountain  county,  and  the  immense  product 
for  many  years,  including  the  banner  year  of  1853,  was  obtained  almost  exclusively  from 
this  source.  The  gradual  failure  of  the  surface  placers  led  up  to  the  discovery  and 
exploitation  of  quartz  ledges,  drift  mining  of  large  beds  of  auriferous  gravels,  and  to 
hydraulic  mining.  In  the  prosecution  of  these  new  methods,  veins  have  been  worked 
to  a  depth  of  3,000  feet,  tunnels  and  drifts  run  for  miles  into  old  lava-capped  channels, 
whole  rivers  diverted  from  their  beds,  and  mountains  of  gravel  sluiced  away.  To-day 
mining  is  mainly  prosecuted  under  the  branches  of  vein,  drift,  and  hydraulic.  The  last 
two  methods  are  employed  to  open  up  vast  beds  of  gold-bearing  gravel  and  the  bedrock 
deposits  of  old  river  channels  overlaid  hundreds  of  feet  by  volcanic  deposits.  The 
gold-bearing  gravel  and  cement  deposits  are  located  mainly  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  in  the  counties  of  Plumas,  Butte,  Sierra,  Yuba,  Nevada,  Placer,  El  Dorado, 
Amador,  Calaveras,  and  Tuolumne. 

There  is  an  ancient  channel,  called  the  "dead  blue  river,"  which  extends  from  Downie- 
ville,  in  Sierra  County,  almost  due  south  through  the  counties  of  Nevada,  Placer,  and  El 
Dorado,  a  distance  of  60  miles.  The  gravel  is  blue  in  color,  and  is  overlaid  by  volcanic 
matter.  Upon  this  channel  are  located  the  richest  drift  and  hydraulic  mines  of  the  State. 
Its  elevation  at  Downieville  is  5,000  feet,  and  at  Placerville  2,800  feet  above  the  sea,  and 
may  be  traced  through  Eureka,  Quaker  Hill,  Dutch  Flat,  Gold  Run,  Georgetown,  and 
Placerville.  Mr.  John  H.  Hammond,  a  mining  engineer,  estimates  that  this  channel  has 
yielded  $3,000,000  for  every  mile  of  gravel.  Mr.  John  S.  Hittell  estimates  that  $250,000,000 
has  been  extracted. 

The  other  channels  are  more  or  less  broken  up  and  are  not  continuously  connected. 
One  begins  at  the  northeast  part  of  Shasta  County  and  thence  runs  southwest  through 
Shasta  into  Trinity  and  across  Humboldt  County,  and  ends  at  the  ocean  at  Gold  Bluff. 
In  Siskiyou  County,  along  and  adjoining  Klamath  River  and  its  tributaries,  are  over 
one  hundred  hydraulic  claims. 

The  so-called  dead  Stanislaus  channel  runs  for  20  miles  parallel  with  the  present 
Stanislaus  River.  Upon  this  channel  is  situated  the  famous  Table  Mountain.  Other 
systems  are  found  in  Yuba,  Plumas,  Butte,  Amador,  Calaveras,  and  Tuolumne  Counties. 
Scientific  opinion  is  divided  whether  these  channels  are  ancient  rivers;  the  popular 
opinion  is  that  they  are.  At  any  rate  they  are  well  enough  defined  to  warrant  the 
expenditure  of  capital  in  their  development.  The  elevations  of  the  bedrock  are  so  well 
known,  and  the  geological  structure  of  the  country  has  been  so  well  studied,  that  little 
risk  is  taken  in  exploiting  them.  The  general  theory  of  these  auriferous  channel  depos- 
its is  that  they  lie  on  the  bedrock  of  old,  buried  rivers,  contain  some  gold  throughout, 
but  are  by  far  the  richest  on  the  country  rock  at  the  bottom,  and  are  covered  from 
nothing  up  to  1,500  feet  deep  with  volcanic  ashes,  tufa,  lava,  and  mud  from  eruptive 
agencies  active  after  the  gold-bearing  gravel  deposits  were  formed.    Sluicing  away  the 


CALIFORNIA     AND     IIKR     RKSOURCES.  139 

entire  superincumbent  mass  by  the  force  of  water,  tlirown  from  large  nozzles  under 
immense  pressure,  is  hydraulic  mining,  and  running  drifts  to  extract  only  the  rich 
layers  on  the  bedrock,  is  drift  mining. 

Gold-bearing  quartz  veins  are  principally  found  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  all  the  way  from  Plumas  to  Mariposa,  and  in  the  northern  counties  of  Shasta, 
Siskiyou,  Trinity,  Humboldt,  and  Del  Norte.  There  are  also  many  ledges  in  San  Ber- 
nardino and  San  Diego  Counties. 

What  is  called  the  "Mother  Lode"  consists  of  a  series  of  gold-bearing  veins,  often  of 
great  magnitude,  forming  a  nearly  continuous  line  throughout  its  entire  length,  nearly 
in  the  center  of  what  is  termed  the  auriferous  slate  belt,  and  appearing  at  altitudes 
above  sea-level,  generally  of  the  middle  foothills,  between  1,500  and  2,500  feet.  The 
name,  given  to  it  by  early  miners,  conveys  no  idea  of  any  genetic  relation  to  other  veins 
or  lodes.  It  has  been  definitely  traced  through  Mariposa,  Tuolumne,  Calaveras,  A  mador, 
and  El  Dorado.  It  is  difficult  to  secure  any  accurate  estimates  of  the  yields  of  the 
different  districts  on  this  great  gold  belt,  but  a  few  examples  of  the  great  number  along 
the  lode  may  give  some  idea  of  its  productiveness:  The  I'rinceton,  in  Marij)osa,  up  to 
1865,  yielded  $4,000,000  down  to  the  500-foot  level;  since  then  it  has  been  legally  tied  up. 
The  Bonanza,  near  Sonora,  Tuolumne  County,  has  taken  out  $2,000,000  from  a  series  of 
recurring  pockets,  half  of  it  between  1882-84.  The  Morgan  Hill  (Quartz  Claim,  in  Cala- 
veras, yielded  $3,000,000  in  less  than  a  year,  most  of  the  gold  pounded  out  in  a  mortar. 
The  Keystone,  of  Amador,  has  produced  $8,500,000.  •  Though  not  on  the  lode,  other 
mines  have  yielded  as  richly:  Rising  Sun,  near  Colfax,  in  Placer  County,  has  turned  out 
$2,000,000.  In  Nevada  County,  the  Idaho's  record  is  $10,000,000  from  1869  to  date;  the 
Eureka,  $5,700,000;  Massachusetts  Hill,  $5,000,000;  Gold  IHII,  .$4,000,000;  Allison  Ranch, 
$2,300,000,  and  Empire,  Fellows,  Huston  Hill,  Osborne  Hill,  and  Gold  Tunnel,  $1,000,000 
each.  Many  quartz  mines  are  now  being  operated  in  every  county  on  the  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada.  Not  so  much  attention  to  quartz  in  the  counties  north  of  the  junction 
of  the  Sierra  with  the  Coast  Range  has  been  given  as  to  the  lodes  in  the  counties  south, 
but  lately  there  have  been  some  surprising  discoveries  in  Shasta  and  Siskiyou  Counties. 
Here  is  ahuost  a  virgin  field  for  prospecting. 

As  bearing  upon  the  question  whether  the  California  mines  are  "exhausted,"  and  to 
justify  the  conviction  expressed  in  the  introduction  to  this  sketch,  that  there  is  more 
gold  yet  in  the  ground  than  has  already  been  taken  out,  attention  is  invited  to  the 
following  considerations.  It  was  demonstrated  in  the  '50s  that  California  was  the 
greatest  gold  field  in  the  world.  The  same  is  true  to-day.  The  districts  which  yielded 
the  richest  returns  then  are  the  greatest  producers  now.  They  still  invite  prosi)ect- 
ing  and  development,  with  promise  of  rich  reward.  Nowhere  else  can  be  found  ledges 
so  numerous  and  well  defined,  gravel  deposits  so  enormous,  and  such  a  net-work  of  blind 
river  channels  sure  to  yield  returns.  Fuel  and  timber  are  abundant  and  cheap.  Over 
thirty  rivers  and  streams  rush  perennially  from  the  Sierra  to  the  sea,  their  now  wasted 
force  waiting  to  be  harnessed  for  the  miner's  use.  Transportation  is  cheap.  The  mines 
are  easily  accessible  and  mostly  situated  at  a  low  altitude,  in  a  country  well  timbered 
and  watered,  where  winter  work  is  not  interrupted  by  storms  and  snow,  by  ice  and  cold. 
Labor  and  material  were  never  so  cheap.  Every  conceivable  improvement  in  machinery 
has  been  adopted  to  facilitate  the  extracting  and  working  of  quartz  and  gravel,  and  new 
processes  have  been  invented  whicli  vastly  reduce  the  expense  of  manipulation,  In  the 
early  days  rock  under  $40  a  ton  would  not  pay.  To-day  an  average  of  $7  quartz,  $.}  drift, 
and  $1  hydraulic  are  "bonanzas."  The  renewal  of  hydraulic  mining,  under  lawful 
authority  and  governed  by  proper  restrictions,  is  imminent,  and  such  renewal  will 
double  the  output  of  gold  and  bring  numerous  properties  into  the  market. 

Mining  has  now  settled  down  to  a  business  basis,  and  in  every  raining  county  there  is 
renewed  activity.  All  the  lodes  are  not  yet  discovered.  The  oldest  quartz  mining 
section  is  Nevada  County,  yet  new  lodes  are  being  discovered.  The  mining  people  are 
not  the  rough  and  uncouth  characters  so  falsely  depicted  by  sensational  writers.  The 
people  are  intelligent,  enterprising,  and  hospitable,  and  mining  is  pursued  amid  all  the 
surroundings  of  civilization. 

The  silver  mines  of  California  are  mainly  found  in  Mono,  Inyo,  and  San  Bcrnanlino 
Counties,  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  They  are  not  now  profitable,  on  acc(junt  of  the 
depressed  silver  market,  but  they  constitute  very  important  mineral  deposits,  which 


140  CALIFORNIA     AND     HER     RESOURCES. 

better  transportation  facilities  would  develop  into  great  activitj'.  The  silver  production 
up  to  date  is  estimated  at  $36,000,000. 

Quiclcsilver  is  largely  mined  in  California,  and  though  deposits  of  cinnabar  are  found 
all  along  the  Coast  Range,  the  principal  producing  districts  are  Lake,  Napa,  Santa  Clara, 
Sonoma,  and  San  Benito  Counties.  The  production  for  1892  was  27,993  flasks  of  76>'2 
pounds  each.  The  shipments  from  San  Francisco  for  the  same  period  were  27,108  flasks. 
The  average  value  per  flask  for  the  year  was  about  $45. 

Though  foreign  to  a  sketch  of  the  precious  metals,  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  terminate 
it  by  a  brief  notice  of  the  fact  that  throughout  the  State  are  distributed  large  deposits 
of  copper,  iron,  tin,  lead,  steatite,  graphite,  chromium,  nickel,  antimony,  manganese, 
coal,  petroleum,  asphaltum,  natural  gas,  lime,  marble,  slate,  onyx,  salt,  sulphur,  gypsum, 
asbestos,  borax,  soda,  cements,  ochre,  magnesia,  and  infusorial  earths.  Their  wide  dis- 
tribution is  remarkable,  and  an  extensive  development  of  them  is  only  awaiting  the 
opening  up  of  a  demand  and  cheaper  transportation.  Several  copper  deposits  are 
worked,  however.  Many  coal  mines,  and  sulphur,  borax,  soda,  salt,  lime,  petroleum, 
asphaltum,  slate,  granite,  and  marble  are  mined,  quarried,  refined,  and  manufactured  at 
the  present  time. 

Those  who  are  interested  in  a  more  detailed  description  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  the 
State  are  referred  to  the  State  Mineralogist's  reports  for  1888  and  1890. 

San  Francisco  is  the  best  manufacturing  center  for  mining  machinery  and  supplies 
to  be  found  anywhere.  Besides  furnishing  the  districts  of  her  own  and  adjoining  States, 
she  ships  yearly  many  expensive  outfits  to  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America,  and 
other  foreign  countries. 


WHAT  CAN  BE  DONE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

By  E.  W.  Maslin. 

As  Manager  of  the  California  State  Board  of  Trade,  I  am  often  asked  by  inquirers  in 
the  East  the  questions:  "What  can  I  do  in  California  while  my  trees  are  growing?"  and 
"  Is  fruit  growing  profitable?"  I  can  do  no  more  than  point  out  a  few  of  the  various 
branches  of  industry  which  promise  a  recompense  while  waiting  for  the  orchard  or 
vineyard  to  produce.  The  Eastern  farmer  generally  depends  upon  several  things  to 
supplement  his  farm  products.  The  poultry  yard,  the  dairy,  and  live  stock  are  relied 
upon  to  add  to  the  account.  But  in  California,  whether  wise  or  not  I  do  not  judge,  the 
California  horticulturist  is  a  specialist.  He  is  a  fruit  grower  and  nothing  more.  He 
is  rather  proud  of  his  vocation,  studies  its  needs  thoroughly,  attends  fruit  growers'  con- 
ventions after  the  crop  is  gathered,  and  despises  the  day  of  small  things.  The  Easterner 
would  see  opportunities  which  our  jjeople  do  not  notice. 

In  his  first  message,  in  January,  1893,  to  the  Legislature,  Governor  Markham  adverted 
to  the  fact  that  while  the  State  was  in  a  prosperous  condition,  the  people  were  import- 
ing large  quantities  of  food  products  which  could  be  produced  by  them.  He  shows 
that  in  1892  the  following  articles  and  amounts  were  imported:  Live  stock,  40,000  tons; 
wool,  1,500  tons;  poultry,  1,000  tons;  eggs,  3,500  tons;  meats  and  packing-house  products, 
20,000  tons;  butter,  2,000  tons;  cheese,  1,800  tons;  hay,  1,500  tons;  potatoes,  3,000  tons; 
flour,  2,500  tons;  starch,  1,600  tons.  With  the  exception  of  the  last  two  all  these  products 
could  be  produced  by  the  farmers  of  the  State,  and  the  profits  realized  the  first  year  of 
the  venture.  Think  how  much  is  contained  in  the  statement  that  California  people 
import  annually  40,000,000  eggs !  During  the  fall  and  early  winter  months  fresh  ranch 
eggs  bring  50  cents  per  dozen  wholesale,  the  average  for  the  year  being  about  33  cents. 
The  average  price  for  all  classes  of  market  fowls  is  almost  double  that  of  Eastern  cities. 

According  to  the  "Journal  of  Commerce"  we  imported  in  1892,  7,500,000  pounds  of 
lard,  1,.300,000  pounds  of  lard  oil,  and  576,000  1-lb  cans,  or  30  carloads,  of  condensed  milk, 
to  produce  which  required  2,000,000  pounds  of  milk. 

Berries  are  always  salable,  but,  of  course,  for  the  best  crops,  need  irrigation.  They, 
also,  can  be  grown  between  the  trees.  Some  of  the  reports  of  the  profits  appear  fabulous, 
but  are  nevertheless  true,  ranging  from  .1)500  to  .$1,000  per  acre.  Strawberries,  planted  in 
August,  produce  a  crop  the  next  j^ear.    Raspberries  are  always  salable. 


CALIFORNIA     AND     HER    RESOURCES. 


141 


Peanuts  are  produced  in  rich  sandj-  loam,  and  are  planted  in  May  after  tlie  orchard 
plowing  is  over.  A  report  in  the  "  Rural  Press  "  states  that  tlie  yield  from  five  separate 
fields  was  from  1,000  to  2,6G6  pounds  per  acre,  which  sold  for  ti  cents  per  i)ound. 

Vegetables  can  be  grown  between  the  trees  for  at  least  three  years.  We  do  not  raise 
enough  to  supply  the  demand.  In  1891  we  exported,  of  potatoes,  48,909,180  pounds;  onions, 
1,119,520  pounds;  and  other  vegetables,  lG,2r)l,000  pounds;  a  total  of  (!fi,282,70O  pounds. 

If  the  whole  of  the  orchard  is  not  set  out,  especial  attention  might  be  paid  to  truck 
farming.    The  following  is  an  estimate  of  the  income  and  cost  of  labor  per  acre: 


Average  Net        AveniRe  Cost 
Income  per  Acre.  Labor  per  Acre. 


Asparagus 

Celery 

Cabbage  

Peas 

Potatoes 

Sweet  potatoes 
Watermelons  . 
Other  melons  . 
Tomatoes 


$217  00 

m  00 

247  00 

87  00 

145  00 

20  00 

77  00 

17  00 

107  00 

13  00 

110  00 

54  00 

13  00 

G7  00 

15  00 

65  00 

32  00 

Seed-growing  offers  a  field  which  would  employ  the  women  and  children.  It  involves 
light  and  pleasant  labor.  W"e  import  into  the  United  States  about  $5,000,000  worth  of 
flower  seed.  California  is  singularly  well  adapted  to  seed.-growing,  and  the  crop  is  an 
exceedingly  profitable  one.  We  produce  now  more  seeds  than  any  other  State,  and  Santa 
Clara  County  produces  half  of  the  crop.  A  lady  of  Ventura  County  is  the  pioneer  seed- 
grower  of  the  State.  Her  place  is  one  of  the  attractions  of  the  town  of  San  Buenaventura. 
A  gentleman  at  Ukiah,  Mendocino  County,  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  native 
bulbs,  and  exporting  them  to  Europe.  Peter  Henderson  wrote,  ten  years  ago,  that 
"California  would  be  the  great  seed  and  bulb-growing  country  of  the  world;  that  it  has 
the  exact  conditions  of  climate  for  such  culture." 

Bee  culture  is  another  prominent  industry  in  the  State,  principally  followed  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State.  San  Bernardino  County  produces  anniaally  1,000,000  pounds; 
Los  Angeles,  1,150,000,  and  Ventura,  600,000  pounds.  Altogether,  we  produce  6,000,000 
pounds.    Each  hive  yields  an  average  of  100  pounds  annually. 

There  are  an  hundred  "small  things"  to  be  done  on  the  farm  which  will  suggest 
themselves  to  the  thrifty  Eastern  farmer,  and  which  will  be  profitable.  Labor  is  in 
demand  during  fruiting  season.  The  prices  paid,  with  board,  are  about  $1  25  to  $1  50  per 
day.  In  picking  season  the  women  and  children  find  occupation.  In  school  vacation 
the  pupils  find  work  in  the  orchards  and  vineyards. 

AVe  do  not  advise  any  man  without  means  to  come  to  California,  but  for  the  man 
with  a  few  thousand  dollars  there  is  no  place  in  the  known  world  where  the  investment 
of  his  capital  and  labor  will  meet  with  a  surer  reward. 

It  has  been  often  urged  that  the  price  of  land  is  too  high,  but  the  term  "  value  "  is  a 
purely  relative  one.  The  value  of  land  is  to  be  considered  from  the  standpoint  of 
income.  A  gentleman,  who  had  farmed  in  Iowa  and  in  Califoniia,  once  presented  this 
statement  to  me: 

Cost  of  Farm  and  Stocking  It. 


lOWA. 

.  .  $4,800  00 

California. 

40  acres,  irrigable 

2  horses 

10  cows 

...  $4,000  no 

400  00 

2(10  (to 

20  cows 

600  00 

60  00 

30  00 

300  00 

10  brood  sows 

5  sows                       - - 

37  50 

10  dozen  chickens 

lOdozen  chickens 

Total 

40  00 

Total 

$5,890  00 

...    H677  60 

The  California  farm  was  planted:  32  acres  to  peach  trees,  8  acres  sowed  to  alfalfa,  and 
peanuts  planted  between  the  trees.  The  Iowa  farm  had  40  acres  pasturage,  40  corn  to 
feed,  10  ensilage,  20  corn  to  sell,  10  hay,  40  oats  to  sell. 


142 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER     RESOURCES. 


Gross  Yield. 


Iowa. 

20  acres  corn,  1,000  bushels $250  00 

40  acres  oats,  2,400  bushels 432  00 

20  cows'cream,  Si^centsperinch..  680  00 

50  hogs,  @  4  cents 500  00 

1,000  dozen  eggs — .  80  00 

Total $1,942  00 


California. 

32  acres  peanuts $1,536  00 

2,000  pounds  butter,  @  22  cents  . .  440  OO 

25  hogs,  @  5  cents 312  50 

1,000  dozen  eggs,  @  18  cents 180  00 

Total $2,468  50 


Balance  in  favor  of  California,  $526  50. 

Suppose  the  net  profit  was  the  same,  you  have  the  advantage  of  a  superb  climate, 
with  neither  blizzards,  snow,  nor  ice;  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  clear  days  in  which 
labor  can  be  performed;  less  acres  to  cultivate,  and  more  leisure  days  and  nights  in 
which  to  enjoy  the  society  of  your  family  and  neighbors.  The  eight  acres  of  alfalfa 
can  support  the  stock  in  pasture  and  with  hay. 

On  the  California  farm  there  were  half  the  cows  to  feed,  half  the  horses  to  work,  half 
the  hogs  to  care  for,  half  the  crop  to  cultivate,  half  as  much  work  to  cut  the  three  crops 
of  alfalfa  as  to  harvest  the  oats  and  hay  in  Iowa,  and  about  half  the  running  expenses. 
There  are  no  costly  houses  to  build,  and  no  expensive  barns  for  stock,  owing  to  the 
clemency  of  the  weather. 

I  leave  you  to  figure  on  the  value  of  40  acres  in  California,  which  produces  $526  50 
more  than  160  acres  in  Iowa,  with  the  other  advantages  added. 

Wait  until  the  peaches  are  in  bearing.  Read  in  the  article  on  Horticulture  the  cost  of 
cultivating  the  32  acres.  Let  us  see  the  value  of  the  product  in  the  fifth  j^ear.  Mr.  A.  T. 
Hatch,  one  of  our  foremost  fruit  growers,  puts  the  gross  value  of  the  peach  crop  at  $300 
per  acre,  and  the  net  returns  at  $200.  I  estimate  each  tree  will  produce  200  pounds  to  the 
tree.  The  yield  will  be  (M0,000  pounds  at  1  cent,  $6,400.  Add  to  this  the  income  from 
hogs,  cows,  and  hens,  $932  50,  and  we  have  $7,332  50.  Peaches  usually  bring  a  higher 
price.  Suppose  you  hire  all  your  work  done;  $2,000  to  cultivate  land,  pick  the  fruit, 
etc.,  will  cover  all  expenses,  and  you  have  a  net  profit  on  40  acres  of  $133  31  per  acre.  A 
California  orchardist  would  criticise  the  last  statement  as  too  low.  This  sum  represents 
the  interest  at  8  per  cent  upon  $1,666  62,  the  value  of  an  acre  of  land  set  out  to  peaches. 
This  return  is  based  upon  the  proposition  that  the  land  is  in  a  peach  country  and 
located  near  a  railroad.  In  estimating  the  value  of  a  home  here,  you  must  remember 
that  vegetables  and  fruit  can  be  grown  nearly  all  the  year.  An  acre  of  land  well  set  to 
fruit  in  California  is  better  worth  $1,000  than  an  acre  in  an  Eastern  or  "Western  State 
at  $100.  Land  unimproved  and  advantageously  situated  can  be  purchased  from  $50  to 
$200  per  acre,  depending  on  the  proximity  to  cities  and  density  of  population.  No  rule 
can  be  laid  down.  I  know  of  two  contiguous  counties  in  the  foothills.  One  is  traversed 
by  the  overland  railroad  and  is  known  as  a  fruit  county.  Land  there  is  well  worth  from 
$100  to  $200  per  acre.  The  other  county  has  a  branch  railroad  only,  the  soil  is  of  equal  if 
not  superior  fertility  and  adaptability  to  fruit  culture,  but  is  not  known  popularly  as  a 
fruit  county,  yet  land  there  can  be  bought  for  from  $20  to  $40  per  acre.  In  a  few  years  it 
will  rank  high  as  a  fruit  county.  Such  a  county  offers  a  great  opportunity  for  a  man 
with  slender  means. 

If  the  inquirer  will  carefully  read  this  book,  he  must  be  persuaded  that  California 
offers  him  a  field  equal  to  his  ambition,  with  a  surety  of  success  in  whatsoever  vocation 
he  may  choose.    Attention  is  called  to  the  market  report  which  follows. 


MINERAL  SPRINGS  AND  HEALTH  RESORTS. 


Tourists  resort  to  California  for  both  health  and  pleasure.  The  pleasure  resorts  are 
sufticiently  advertised.  Yosemite  and  the  sequoia  groves  have  been  described,  and 
their  fame  is  known  the  world  over.  Coronado,  Del  Monte,  Castle  Crag,  and  the  Ray- 
mond hotels  are  household  words.    But  the  mineral  springs  have  scarcely  been  named 


CALIFORNIA    AND     HER    RESOITRCRS. 


143 


outside  the  State.  The  therapeutical  action  of  mineral  waters  on  the  liuman  system  is 
well  recognized  by  the  medical  facultj'.  No  State  possesses  a  greater  variety  or  number 
of  springs  than  California,  and  in  the  main  they  are  accessible  directly  by  rail  or  by  a 
few  miles  of  easy  staging.  It  is  needless  to  say  tliat  the  climate  is  all  that  the  invalid 
could  desire.  They  are  generally  in  the  mountains,  at  elevations  varying  from  fiLKi  to 
3,000  feet  above  the  sea.  Trout  streams  are  in  tlie  vicinity  and  game  abounds  in  the 
woods,  so  that  the  visitor  may  not  suffer  from  eimui  and  may  have  an  oliject  to  promjtt 
to  the  e.xercise  so  essential  to  the  recovery  of  health. 

Dr.  Winslow  Anderson,  of  the  "  Pacitic  Medical  .lournal,"  has  examined  the  sjirings  of 
California  and  reported  the  results  in  a  work  published  in  ISJM),  from  which  these  facts 
are  taken.  He  found  springs  which  may  be  classed  as  follows:  thermal  acid,  alkaline, 
alum,  arsenic,  borax,  bromine  and  bromide,  calcareous,  carbonated,  chalybeate,  chlori- 
nated, iodine,  magnesian,  silicious,  and  sulphuretted.  Thermal  springs  abound.  He 
examined  290  springs.  Many  of  these  springs  are  known  by  some  popular  name,  but 
which  are  really  a  group  of  springs,  both  hot  and  cold,  and  each  containing  different 
mineral  constituents.  A  majority  of  the  springs  were  subjected  to  quantitative 
analysis,  so  that  the  physician  may  now  direct  the  patient  to  the  spring  which  con- 
tains the  specific  remedy.  Comparisons  have  been  made  with  the  waters  of  the  cele- 
brated springs  of  Europe  and  the  ingredients  found  almost  identical.  Nearly  every 
county,  except  the  valley  counties,  contains  mineral  springs  of  known  repute. 


MARKET  QUOTATIONS. 


The  following  are  the  prices  for  provisions  in  California,  on  June  15,  1893.    The  first 
are  the  prices  in  San  Francisco.    The  second  are  the  retail  prices  at  Sacramento  City: 


SAN  FRANCISCO. 

The  quotations  for  provisions,  such  as 
meat  and  flour,  are  jobbing  prices;  all 
others  are  prices  received  by  producers. 

Flour— Family  Extra,  $1 10@4  20  f  bbl;  Bak- 
ers' Extra,  ?4@4  20;  Superfine,  $2  80@3  20. 

Wheat— $1  20@1  22U  fi  ctl  for  fair  to  choice 
Shipping;  Milling  grades,  ^1  27}4®l  35  ~f.  ctl. 

Barley— Feed,  82i4rg)83»^c  fi  ctl,  good  quality, 
and  85c  for  choice;  Brewing,  90c@$l  02i<. 

Oats— Milling,  $1  60@1  65;  fancy  feed,  $1  60® 
1  65;  good  to  choice.  $1  45@1  60;  common  to  fair, 
$1  15@1  35;  Gray,  ?1  30@1  45;  Black,  $1  15@1  30 
^ctl. 

Corn— Large  Yellow,  ?1  02}4(cbl  05;  Small  Yel- 
low, $1  0.T@1  Q-}4;  White,  ?!  10@1  17^  "^  ctl. 

Cracked  Corn— .?24@>25  fi  ton. 

Oilcake  Meal— ?o5  f,  ton. 

CoRNMEAi^Millers  quote  feed  at  ?23  50@24  50 
^  ton ;  fine  kinds  for  the  table,  in  large  and  small 
packages.  2s^®.3J^c  ^  tt). 

Chopped  Feed— .$16  .50(ai8  50  ^  ton. 

Middlings— ?20@22  50  %  ton. 

Hay  —New:  Wheat,  ?0@11  50;  Wheat  and  Oat, 
?8@9;  WildOat,$8@8  50;  Alfalfa,  .|8@10;  Barley, 
?7@8  fi  ton. 

Straw— 3^5®45c  f.  bale. 

Hops— 13®16c  ^  tt). 

MiLLSTUFFs  — Rye  Flour,  S'Xc;  Rye  Meal,  3c; 
Graham  Flour,  3c;  Oatmeal,  414  0;  Oat  Groats,  5c; 
Cracked  Wheat,  3Uc;  Buckwheat  Flour,  5c;  Pearl 
Barlev,  Al^C^W^o.  '4>  lb. 

Bran— $16  .50^17  f>  ton. 

Rye— $1  12i^@l  1.5  f.  ctl. 

Buckwheat— ?2  25  f>  ctl. 

Ground  Barley— |19^19  50  f,  ton. 

Potatoes— Ordinary  kinds  of  new  sell  in  sacks 
at  90c@$l  25  ^  ctl.  New  Early  Rose,  bxs,  90c@ 
|1  25;  New  Burbanks,  $1®1  50  ^  ctl. 

ONIONS-Red,  7.T(a>.S5c ;  Silverskins,  90cfa>?l  f.  ctl. 

Dried  Peas— Green,  |1  7.5@2;  Blackeye,  f  1  65 
@1  75;  Niles,  ?2®2  25  f.  ctl. 

Beans  — Bayos,  .$2  7.5^2  80;  Butter,  $3®3  25; 
Pink,  $2  80@2  90;  Red,  $3@3  25;  Lima,  $2  90@3; 


Pea,  $2  70@2  80;  Small  White,  |2  60@2  70;  Large 
White,  ?2  60@2  70  ^  ctl. 

Vegetables— Green  Corn,25(ai35c  f^doz;  String 
Beans,  2@4c  ^  Xb;  Wa.x  Beau.s,  4(g,5c;  Refuge 
Beans,  5(§>6c;  Summer  Squash.  75c(a41  75  '^  box; 
Cucumbers,  75c  "f,  box  for  ordinary  and  fAw 
2  50  f,  box  for  bay;  Green  Peppers,  10((t.l2c  'f,  lb 
Green  Peas,  ?l(g)l  50  f.  sack;  Asparagus, f I  2.5(0) 
1  50  ^  box  for  No.  1  and  50c('g)?l  ^  box  for  No.  2; 
Rhubarb,  40@75c  f,  box;  Tomatoes,  ?2(fl)2  M  ^ 
box;  Turnips,  ?1  f,  ctl;  Beets,  %\C(ti\  25  'f,  sack; 
Carrots,  85c@.fl  25;  Cabbage,  $l(cyl  15;  Garlic, 
li,^@2c  f.  tb;  Cauliflower,  65@85c  f,  doz;  Dry 
Peppers,  5c  ^  lb;  Dry  Okra,  15c  f,  lb. 

Fresh  Fruit— Apples,  2,5@50c  f>  box;  Pears, 
50{ai75c  ^  box  and  basket;  Strawberries,  fVdS  'f, 
chest  for  Sharpless  and  ii^ctiVi  for  Longworth; 
Raspberries, ^ormlO  f> chest;  iiooseberries, 2'  ja>:>c. 
fi  lb;  Cherries,  2.5(0)100  lor  while,  aOfiWlOc  for  Royul 
Ann,  and  25(^15c  ~f>  box  for  black;  Cherries  in 
bulk,  2('ai3c  %^  lb;  do.  80ur,2c^tb;  Currants,  »l(fO 
5  50  ^  chest;  Roval  Apricots,  90cra>|l  25  ^  box; 
Moorpark  Aprico'ts,  $Uoil  25  W  box;  Figs,  l.Vm20c 
^  lb;  Cherry  Plums,  5Wn)7.5c  f>  drawer;  Peaches, 
%l(dt>\  ,50  V>  box;  Blackberries,  7.5c  f^  drawer. 

Dried  FuuiT— Apples,  »\\vc(\,'Cai',^ -.a;  do.  evap- 
orated. In  boxes,  Sjj'oilOc;  Pears,  bleaclied,  ri^o/i'ic 
for  sliced,  ;ira/5c  for  quiirtered,  and  8c  for  evap- 
orated; Pears,  unbleached,  3((t>lc  for  sliced,  and 
•ll^(a^.iQ  for  quartered;  Figs,  4(o;.5c  for  pressed,  and 
3(a>3V2C  for  unpressed;  Prunes,  7^681;  lor  small, 
9r<p9^c  for  the  four  sizes,  and  Uie  for  the  fifth 
size' of  .50s(a>COs;  pitted  Plums,  ,s>  j^n-'.i'.jc;  un- 
pitted,  'l%0^b(i;  bleaclied  Peiuhes,  .Vn((^loc;  sun- 
dried,  7ro)8;.;^e;  .\pricots,  lUod  Ic  for  Itoyul,  and 
14(J^15c  for  .Moorpark;  Grapes,  2(^0.:!'. ,c  \\  lb. 

Nuts— Chestnuts,  7ro)10c;  Walnuts.  fi(*7c  for 
hard  shell;  Chile  Walnuts.  6c;  Cnlifornla  .\)- 
monds.  l.')C  for  soft  shell;  6^,M/7'.jC  for  hard  shell, 
and  l.Vo)l6c  for  paper  shell  t'  'b- 

Honey— Comb,  12rt»i:!c;  amber,  extracted,  V^o 
6c;  water  white,  extracted,  i/oic.'^c  %^  lb. 

Butter— Fancy  creamery,  _'0((»21c;  fancy  dairy, 
igfS/JOc;  good  to  choice,  17((i618i^c;  common 
grades,  14rt?H6c  f,  tb. 

Cheese— Choice  to  fancy,  new,  H<P')c;  fair  to 


144 


CALIFORNIA    AND    HER    RESOURCES. 


good,  7@73^c;  Eastern,  ordinary  to  fine,  ll@13c; 
do.  fancy  creamery,  14(5)15c  f,  lb. 

Eggs— California  ranch,  •20@22c;  store  lots,  15® 
ITJ^c  f,  dozen;  Eastern  Eggs,  15@16c  for  fair, 
and  17j^@18i^c  ^  dozen  for  choice. 

Poultry— Live  Turkeys— Gobblers,  14(a)l5c  ^ 
lb;  Hens,  13®14c;  Roosters,  |5@6  for  old,  and 
$8@10  for  young;  Friers,  $6(ai7  50;  Broilers,  $2@3 
for  small,  and  |4@5  50  for  large;  Hens,  ?6@6  50; 
Ducks,  old,  ?4((^  50;  young,  ?4@5^ dozen;  Geese, 
old,  $1  25;  Goslings,  $1  25@1  75  ^  pair. 

Provisions  — Eastern  Hams,  16@16i^c;  Cali- 
fornia Hams,  15@15>2C;  Eastern  Breakfast  Bacon, 
16@17c;  California  Bacon,  heavy  and  medium, 
13i^e;  do.  light,  14@15c;  do.  extra  light,  15J^@16c 
^  lb;  Pork,  extra  prime,  ?16@16  50;  do.  prime 
mess,  ?17@18;  do.  mess,  ?2.3@24;  do.  clear,  $25@ 
26;  do.  extra  clear,  $26@27  ^  bbl;  Beef,  mess,  bbl, 
?7  50@8;  do.  extra  mess,  bbls,  $8  50@9;  do.  family, 
?ll@r2  ^  bbl;  extra  do.,  $12  50fai3  f,  bbl;  do. 
smoked,  10i^(®llc;  Eastern  Lard,  tierces,  10® 
10^4c;  do.  prirne  steam,  13c;  10- tb  pails,  14c;  5- lb, 
14>^e;  3-lb,  1414c;  California,  10- lb  tins,  12®12i^c; 
do.  5- lb,  12i^@l3c;  do.  kegs,  13l^c;  do.  20- lb  buck- 
ets, 13c;  compound,  9}4o  for  tierces,  and  10c  ^  tb 
for  half  bbls. 

Meat  Market. — Following  are  the  rates 
for  whole  carcases  from  slaughterers  to 
dealers : 

Beef— First  quality,  5}^®6c;  second  quality, 
4}4@oc;  third  quality,  33^®4c  ^  lb. 

C.A.LVES— 5®7c  f.  lb. 

Mutton— 6@6i^c  ^  lb. 

Lamb— Spring,  7}-^@S}4c  ^  lb. 

Pork— Live  Hogs,  on  foot,  grain-fed,  heavy 
and  medium,  (^%(S)6%c;  stock  Hogs,  5M@6e; 
dressed  Hogs,  9}4@'Pi  ^  lb. 

SACRAMENTO  CITY. 

Retail  Prices. — Following  are  the  prices 
asked  by  retailers  for  the  various  articles 
mentioned : 

Green  Fruit— Strawberries,  10c  fi  lb;  Goose- 
berries, 8e  f,  lb;  Cherries,  Royal  Ann,  $1  15  fi 
box;  Sour,  50c  fi  box;  Black,  65c  ^  box;  Wild 
Blackberries,  10@12i^c  ^  tb;  Raspberries,  10c  1^ 
lb;  Currants,  50c  ^  box;  Apricots,  Pringle,  10c  |i 
lb;  do.  Royal,  I2I/2C. 

Dried  Fruit— Apricots,  10@12c  'f,  lb;  Apples, 
8®  10c;  Peaches,  12@16c;  Plums,  12®14c;  Prunes, 
8@10c;  Pears,  7@9c;  Nectarines,  12®16c;  Grapes, 
$1  'f.  box;  Figs,  5@Se  ^  lb. 

Citrus  Fruits— Limes,  Mexican,  10c  f,  doz; 
Lemons,  Sicily,  40c  ^  doz;  California  Lemons, 
2oe;  Oranges,  15c  ^  doz;  Cocoanuts,  10c  each; 
Pineapples,  .50c  each;  Bananas,  35c  f>  doz. 

D.iiRY  Produce— Butter— Valley,  f.  roll,  40c; 
Fancy  Petaluma,  50c;  Nevada  Creamery,  50c; 
Eastern,  packed,  20c  'f,  lb;  Firkin,  10@20c. 
Cheese— California,  15c  |l  tb;  Young  America, 
16c;  Eastern  Creamery,  20c;  Limburger,  20c; 
Genuine  Swiss,  40c;  American,  25c;  Martin's 
Creamery,  20c. 

Eggs— Fresh  Ranch,  25c  ^  doz;  two  doz,  45c. 

Poultry— Turkeys— Live,  20c  ^  lb;  Gobblers, 
20c;  dressed,  24c.  Chickens— Hens,  ?6@6  50  ^ 
doz,  60@75c  each;  Roosters,  $6®7  f>  doz,  60®75c 
each;  Broilers,  $5  f,  doz,  50@60c  each;  Tame 
Ducks,  $9  ^  doz,  90c  each;  Geese,  ?1  35  each. 

Vegetables— Turnips,  123^c  ^  doz;  Beets, 
12i^c;  Carrots,  1214c;  Parsnips,  12i^c;  Lettuce, 
12i^c;  Radishes,  ifj^c;  Cabbage,  l@li-^c  f,  tb; 
Cauliflower,  10c;  Green  Onions,  12i^c  ^  doz; 
Onions,  l^^c  ^  lb;  Dried  Peppers,  20c;  Garlic,  10c; 


Horseradish  Root,  10c;  Spinach,  5e;  Green  Peas, 
5@7c;  Green  Peppers,  25c;  Dried  Okra,  30c;  Rhu- 
barb, 5@7c;  Celery,  5®10c  «i  bunch;  Asparagus, 
5c  ^  tb;  Cucumbers,  20c  «  doz;  Artichokes,  5c 
^  doz;  String  Beans,  5c  ^  tb;  Squash,  4c  Vi  tb; 
Green  Corn,  30c  ^  doz;  Wax  Beans,  5c  sM  lb; 
Tomatoes,  12i^®15c. 

Potatoes— New  retail  at  IJ^c  f,  lb. 

Meats— Beef- Prime  Rib  Roasts,  12M@15c; 
Chuck  Roasts,  10c;  Rump,8c;  Brisket, 8c;  Corned 
Beef,8c;  Porterhouse  Steak,  15@18c;  Loin  Steak, 
12i^2@15c;  Round  Steak,  10c;  Chuck,  10c.  Veal— 
Loin  and  Rib  Chops,  15c;  Roast  Veal,  1214c. 
Mutton— Leg,  ll@12i'2c;  Loin  and  Rib  Chops, 
12i^'2c;  Mutton  Stew,  Sc;  Shoulder  Chops,  8c. 
Pork— Roast  or  Chops,  15c:  Corned  Pork,  15c; 
Sausages,  1214c;  Bacon,  14®19c;  Ham,  16@20c. 

Breadstuffs  — Flour,  ?4  40  "^  bbl,  $1  10  for 
50- tb  sacks,  ?2  20  for  100- tb  sacks;  Oatmeal,  10- tb 
sacks,  40c;  Cornmeal,  10-lb  sacks,  25c;  Cracked 
Wheat,  10-tb  sacks,  35c;  Hominy,  lO-lb  sacks, 
40c;  Graham  Flour,  10- tb  sacks,  30c;  Buckwheat, 
10-lb  sacks,  50c;  Rye,  35e  f.  10-tb  sack. 

Hay  and  Grain— Hay,  Oat,  65c  fi  cwt;  Wheat, 
65c;  second  quality,  55e;  Alfalfa,  60c;  Wheat, 
whole,  $1  55;  Ground  Barley,  fl  10;  Feed  Oats, 
$1  60®1  85;  Middlings,  ?1  15;  Bran,  95c;  Straw, 
70@75c  f,  bale. 

Rates  to  Producers.— Following  are  the 
prices  to  producers  of  the  various  articles : 

Green  Fruit- Strawberries,  ?1  25  ^  chest; 
Gooseberries,  .5®6c  fi  lb;  Cherries,  Roval  Ann, 
90c  f.  box;  black,  50c;  Sour,  40c;  Wild  Black- 
berries, 8@10c  ^  tb ;  Raspberries, $1  ^  case;  Cur- 
rants, 40c  f,  box;  Apricots,  $1  50  f*  box. 

Dried  Fruit— Apricots,  6®7c  ^  tb;  Peaches, 
9@10c;  Apples,  5®8c;  Prunes,  9@10c;  Pears,  4® 
5c;  Nectarines,  7@8c;  Raisins,  $1  50^ box;  Figs, 
7c;  Grapes,  7c  ^  tb. 

Dairy  Produce— Butter— Valley,  1714c  f,  lb; 
Fancy  Petaluma,  19c;  Nevada  Creamery,  21c; 
Firkin,  15@17i4e.  Cheese  —  California,  10c; 
Young  America,  lie;  Eastern  Creamery,  15@16c; 
Limburger,  17®lSc;  Genuine  Swiss,  2Sc;  Ameri- 
can Swiss,  16®18c;  Martin's  Creamery,  15@16c. 

Eggs— Ranch,  19@20c  f,  dozen. 

Poultry  — Turkeys  — Live  Hens,  16c  ^  tb; 
Gobblers,  15c:  dressed,  18c.  Chickens— Hens,  ?6® 
7  ^  dozen;  Roosters,  ?5@6;  Broilers,  ?3;  Tame 
Ducks,  .$6  50;  Geese,  $2  f,  pair. 

Vegetables— Yellow  Squash,  2i.'2'c  f'  ^'-  Scal- 
lop do,  214c;  Wax  Beans,  .314c;  String,  3l<c;  Horse, 
2c:  Sacramento  Peas,  3c;  Alameda,  5c;  Garlic, 
7c;  White  Onions,  80c  f,  ctl;  Red,  70c;  Cabbage, 
Early  York,  ix^c;  Dutch,  3.4c;  Green  Peppers,  15c; 
Dry,"r2^c;  Cucumbers,  i5c  ^  doz;  Green  Corn, 
20c  f.  doz;  Tomatoes,  10c  ^  lb;  Asparagus,  ?1  ^ 
box;  Artichokes,  25c  fi  doz;  Lettuce,  8c;  Beets, 
8c;  Turnips,  8c;  Carrots,  8c;  Parsnips,  8c;  Rad- 
dishes,  8c;  Green  Onions,  8c. 

Potatoes— New,  ?1  f,  ctl. 

Meats— Beef,  5^®6c  ^  lb;  Mutton,  7^@8c; 
Lamb,  8@9c;  Veal,  large,  5@5J4c;  small,  dressed, 
8®9c;  Hogs,  5}4@&yic;  dressed  Pork,  9c;  Hams, 
Eastern,  17®20c;  California,  15@17c;  Bacon, 
12i4@17c. 

Breadstuffs— Flour,  $4  f>  bbl;  Oatmeal,  10-lb 
sacks,  314c  f,  tb,  $3  85  fi  100-lb  sacks;  Cornmeal, 
White,  11  90  f.  100-tb  sacks;  Yellow,  ?1  60  ^ 
100- lb  sacks;  Cracked  Wheat,  $2  35  ^  100-tb  sacks; 
Graham,  $2  ^  100-lb  sacks. 

Hay  and  Grain— Oat  Hay,  ?10@11  f  ton; 
Wheat,  ?10®11;  second  quality,  ?9:  Alfalfa,  ?9® 
10  50;  Wheat,  whole,  $1  40  ^  ctl;  Barlev,  95c; 
Corn,  ?1  25;  Bran,  ?16  50  ^  ton;  Middlings,  ?21 
fiton;  Ground  Barley  $22  ^  ton;  Straw,  50@55c 
^.  bale. 


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